At least two Nigerians are involved in a new deportation exercise planned for this Wednesday by the UK Home Office, for which a mass deportation fight have been arranged, a UK newspaper, The Guardian has reported.
Also affected in the mass deportation plan are people from another West African country, Ghana. Affected victims are reportedly “mothers and grandmothers, some of whom have lived in the UK for decades”, the paper reports.
Some are said to be suffering from mental issues and presently placed on “anti-psychotic medication” in the United Kingdom.
the number of people affected by the planned mass deportation flight are reportedly not less than 10 and are all facing removal from the United Kingdom to West African countries. Also, available details shows that some of these individuals arrived from their respective countries to seek asylum in the United Kingdom.
UK human rights organisations are currently fighting the planned deportation because they are convinced that these victims will be returning to very hostile environments where their safety is of heightened concerns.
These human rights organisations who are currently in court seeking to stop the planned removal of these Nigerians and Ghanaians are making their argument based on grounds such as “religious background, modern slavery, rights to family life, and persecution” for same sex relationship, The Guardian has reported.
A 40 year old Nigerian woman affected in the removal plan is said to have fled Nigeria since 2009 and currently has about 3 children, all of whom are British citizens. She fled to the UK on fake travel documents, an offense for which she was jailed upon arrival in the UK.
She was pregnant as at the time and was forced to deliver her child while in the UK prison. She allegedly fled from Nigeria due to religious persecution, being a Christian in a Muslim dominated area.
The woman however, does not presently live with British children, as they were forcefully taking away from her when she became mentally unstable. She also lost her home then, and is now facing deportation to Nigeria from a UK detention center where she is currently held pending her planned removal.
In an interview she granted to the newspaper, she said ”How can the Home Office separate me from my children, I`m not going to let it happen. If they force me to go. I will die. I will kill myself. I escaped Nigeria to save my life.”
Another Nigerian identified as Adeniyi Raji, a 48 year old gay man is reportedly facing deportation from the UK for the second time. He also claims that if he is returned to Nigeria he is going to be killed due to his sexual orientation, and has given evidence of threats from people in Nigeria.
One of such evidence of threat is a text message he said he received from someone who wants to harm him in Nigeria saying “So after all that we did to you before, you are still a practicing homosexual. Wait until we see you down here, that will be the end of you.”
The said Mr. Adeniyi also spoke to The Guardian, explaining a precarious situation, which he currently faces. He said “I`m in the UK because I need protection. If I`m returned to Nigeria, they will kill me”, he said.
