The British Government has deported 44 Nigerians and Ghanaians to their home countries in a single flight as the authorities declared that there is a major surge in immigration enforcement and returns activities.
Sources said that the affected Nigerians and Ghanaians were deported to their countries of origin on Friday, October 18, 2024 on the order of the Home Office in United Kingdom, while the deportation came at a time when the United Kingdom immigration policy on asylum seekers is witnessing drastic changes.
“We have already begun delivering a major surge in immigration enforcement and returns activity to remove people with no right to be in the UK and ensure the rules are respected and enforced, with over 3,600 returned in the first two months of the new government’, the Home Office was quoted saying.
Reports showed that one of the four affected Nigerians held at Brook House immigration removal centre near Gatwick before their deportation, was.quoted expressing shock over the development and that he became traumatised after seeing a cellmate try to kill himself.
The Chief Executive of Migrants’ Rights Network, Fizza Qureshi was equally quoted expressing shock at the news of the deportation of the Nigerians and Ghanians, saying that the asylum seekers have not committed any crime to warrant such a treatment.
‘We are extremely shocked at the cruelty of these deportations, especially with the speed, secrecy and the lack of access to legal support. In the words of one detainee, we spoke to before he was put on the flight: ‘The Home Office is playing politics with people’s lives. We have not done anything wrong other than cry for help’.”
