Finland deports over 100 Nigerians

About 100 Nigerians, including women and children, were deported on Thursday, after seeking asylum in Finland.

The asylum seekers arrived the cargo terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos at about 7 a.m. on a cargo airline, Privilege Gourment.

Investigations revealed that three of the deported men were arrested for violence and were taken to the policestation at the MMIA, while some others were taken by a Sherrif bus to Alagbon, Lagos Island for travel offences. Continue..

Most of the deportees, who spoke with our correspondent at the scene of arrival, expressed displeasure over their treatment by the Nigerian Embassy officials, adding that they did not receive the expected support from the officials.

One of them, Mr. Isaac Ejiofor, said that he had no criminal records in Finland, and wondered why he should be deported after spending over one year in the asylum camp.

He explained that he was earlier in Greece but had gone to Finland to seek asylum, so as to procure documents that would enable him to work in the country.

He said, “The policeman there had asked me what I want since I do not have any criminal record to warrant my deportation. I said I wanted to work and live a normal life in Finland, so he (policeman) told me to seek asylum and I did that.

“I was taken to the asylum camp and was there for over a year processing my documents that will permit me to work there. There were other African nationals there with four Nigerians. Suddenly, we the Nigerians were brought out and were deported when we didn’t even commit any offence.”

He added that the Nigerian Embassy at Finland had refused to come to their aid even after they had paid €1,500 to the embassy officials in Finland.

Another deportee, who gave his name as Jackson, said that the Nigerian Embassy officials in Finland colluded with some Finland immigration authorities to extort money from asylum seekers in the camp.

He said that the embassy officials had promised to assist them to get working permit from the Finland authority, but failed to keep their promise.

A female deportee, Esther, said she and her husband had being in Finland for over 14 years, but was surprised that they were deported without committing an offence.