Abuja, Nigeria – June 28th, 2024
A group of 103 Nigerians arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja yesterday evening after being deported from Turkey. The chartered Southwind Airlines flight landed around 7:00 PM and taxied to the airport’s designated area for arriving passengers.
Upon disembarkation, the returnees were met by a contingent of government agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), and security personnel. NEMA officials led the reception, offering support and addressing the group’s concerns.
The reason for their deportation remains unclear. However, some of the returnees expressed anger and frustration, claiming unfair treatment and prolonged detention of over eleven months in Turkey. They appealed to the Nigerian government to intervene and recover any confiscated belongings.
NEMA’s Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, represented by Alhaji Bashir Idris Garga, the North Central Zone Director, addressed the returnees. She urged them to accept their experience and stressed the importance of adhering to the law in any future endeavors abroad.
NEMA provided financial assistance to help the returnees travel to their various destinations within Nigeria. Other government agencies present offered additional support, including health screenings, registration, and immigration clearance.
The full details surrounding the deportation and the returnees’ experiences in Turkey are still emerging.
