Nigerians deported by US in 30-hour flight chained legs and hands — Lawyer

A United States of America-based Nigerian lawyer, Emmanuel Ogebe, has revealed a recent deportation of Nigerians and other Africans, who were manacled and shackled, in a 30-hour flight.

The human rights activist made the development known in a bulletin circulated to the United Nations (UN) and relevant governments.

According to a statement made available to The Eagle Online by Ogebe, the time has come for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sign a bilateral agreement with the US on Nigerian deportees for dignified return.

He further revealed that in the latest deportation, America dumped more Nigerians in Ghana on the fourth flight to Africa by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Ogebe, in the bulletin to the UN and relevant governments, complained about the dehumanising deportation of Diaspora Nigerians from the US.

He said: “This is to provide an update that a U.S. deportation flight arrived Africa at the weekend dumping detainees in multiple countries. 

“It is believed to be the 4th deportation flight to Africa.”

The lawyer provided the routing of the flight: Alvarado outside Dallas, TX USA; to Senegal to refuel; to Sierra Leone to drop a few; to Central African Republic – to drop two females (from Uzbek and Turkey) and 17 males (Russian, Cuban, possibly Central or South American, etc.); and then to Ghana to drop the remaining persons.

He said the flight took about 30 hours in total, with the deportees “manacled and shackled”.

He added: “Some of those dropped in Ghana were Nigerian citizens. 

“They suffered hardship in Ghana as well.”

Ogebe had earlier called on President Tinubu to negotiate a bilateral agreement with the United States to guarantee the dignified repatriation of Nigerians facing deportation.

He made the call during an interview on a Channels Television programme: “Inside Sources,” hosted by former presidential aide, Laolu Akande, on the growing number of Nigerians in US immigration detention. 

He expressed concern that some citizens were being detained despite not committing criminal offences and, in some instances, deported to third countries.

He said: “There’s something that’s happening which is not right. 

“Nigerians are being arrested and detained in the US who have not committed any crimes and they’re being deported to Ghana and other countries. 

“I call on the Nigerian government to sign an agreement with the US for a dignified transfer of Nigerians who want to self-repatriate instead of being detained.”

Ogebe, of the US-Nigeria Law Group, added that the Federal Government should work closely with Nigerians in the diaspora in addressing international issues affecting the country, noting that such collaboration would improve Nigeria’s human rights record and global reputation.

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