Nigeria: U.S. Deports 63 Citizens (Daily Trust)

Nigeria: U.S. Deports 63 Citizens

Nahimah Ajikanle Nurudeen
28 August 2009

Lagos — Sixty-three Nigerians have been deported from the United States of America for being in possession of illegal fire arms and residing in the country illegally. The deportees who were brought into the country in a Boeing 737 aircraft with registration number N739 MI touched down at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos at exactly 11:15 am Wednesday.

They have been handed over to the Nigerian Immigration Services. They arrived the country from Miami, USA. They included seven females and 56 males. Most of the deportees had been residing in the US for between two and 10 years.

One of them who spoke with Daily Trust said he was arrested on his way to a super market.

He confirmed that his documents had since expired, adding that he also lost his job due to the global economic meltdown.

About a month ago, 23 Nigerians were deported from Spain for purportedly staying in the country illegally while Ireland and Spain in June equally deported 155 Nigerians, including infants from their country. Deportees from Ireland, who totalled 86, were made up of 45 males, 28 females and three infants while those from Spain totalled 6. Sources said the deportees from Spain included one who was deported for drug related offences.