Deportation: ‘Britain Not Targeting Nigerians Alone’

While the Home Office refused to comment on whether other Nigerians living illegally in the United Kingdom are in line to be removed from the country soon, two prominent Nigerian organisations in the UK, have cleared the misconceptions about this week’s deportation of about 50 Nigerians from Britain, saying it is not that the United Kingdom Border Authority, UKBA, is targeting Nigerians living illegally in Britain.

Rather, it said it is “fight against illegal immigration,” which “is the law.” According to the chairman of Central Association of Nigerians in UK, CANUK, Tunde Loye, “I’m against deportation,” and “we pity our people being deported,” but removing illegal immigrants is nothing against Nigerians in particular.

The same views were expressed by the President of Association of British-Nigerians Law Enforcement Officers, ABLE, Yemisi Jenkins.

She told The Guardian that people could have avoided it had they offered to return to Nigeria voluntarily. “The operation is against anyone here illegally, whether they’re Nigerians, Ghanaians, Chinese or any national.”

Asked if it was fair not to allow them to take any of their belongings, Jenkins said illegal immigrants and overstayers have no rights once arrested by UKBA officials. “One of the many disadvantages of deportation is that you do not get to wrap up your affairs.”