The Nigerian Federal Government has received 103 Nigerians who were deported from Turkey due to issues related to expired visas and irregular migration.
Alhaji Tijani Ahmed, the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), announced this during the profiling of the deportees in Abuja.
Represented by Amb. Catherine Udida, the Director of Migration Affairs in the commission, Ahmed stated that the commission was expecting 110 deportees but received 103, all of whom are males.
Some of them have been in the deportation camp for several months. The commission plans to investigate the allegations gathered during their profiling. Ahmed also mentioned that the NCFRMI is responsible for all returnees, regardless of their status, and has a program to train and reintegrate them into society.
Mr. Bashir Garga, the North-Central Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), assured the returnees of the government’s readiness to support them through collaborative efforts of all relevant agencies.
One of the victims, Mr. Arinze Stone, shared his experience of being arrested and detained in a camp in Turkey for about six months. He claimed that the Turkish authorities were arresting people whose papers were not yet renewed or had just expired.
He mentioned that since the European Union started paying Turkey for illegal immigrants, the government stopped issuing and renewing resident permits, which led to his deportation. Another victim, Mr. Moses Emeh, revealed that he had a registered company in Turkey and had been living there for more than eight years.
He also expressed his concerns about the transparency and sincerity of the Turkish government, and he believed that his deportation was not justified as his case was still pending in court.
The returnees were provided with dignity kits, starter packs, and stipends to enable them to travel to their respective places.
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