Sweden, Norway and Denmark take the unprecedented step of deporting 29 Nigerians in leg chains

ABOUT 29 Nigerians were deported from Europe yesterday in an unprecedented manner that involved them being put in leg chains which were still on them as they disembarked at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos.

Deported from Sweden, Norway and Spain, the men arrived at the Lagos airport yesterday morning at about 6.45am on a flight run by private operator Privilege Style. Passengers onboard the flight included 27 Nigerian males, two females and two Togolese males who were also deported to Nigeria.

Apparently, nine of the Nigerian passengers were deported for alleged drug trafficking, while the rest were sent back to their fatherland for immigration offences. One airport official disclosed that by the time the deportees were taken onboard the flight, the 29 males were chained at the ankles because they were considered huge and could pose a threat to the immigration and police officials on the aircraft.

He added: “I can authoritatively confirm that the males were kept in chains out of fear that they might resist their arrest and deportation but they removed the chains a few hours into the journey. Other than the fact they were unwilling to return to their country, the deportees were very sad because of the ill-treatment they experienced in the hands of the officials.

Some of the deported Nigerians had been held since last year and were prevented from communicating with their relatives and friends until it was time to bring them back to Nigeria. Joseph Alabi, a spokesman for the Lagos Airport Police Command, said the deportees were received by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and the police.

He said also others at the airport to receive them were officials the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). According to Mr Alabi, the nine persons, who were deported for alleged drug-related offences, were handed over to the NDLEA, while two others who were deported for criminal offences were handed over to the police.

Mr Alabi said the remaining deportees who allegedly committed immigration-related offences, were profiled and allowed to leave for their respective destinations. It is not yet clear when the two Togolese nationals will be allowed to return to their home country.