Ireland Deports 35 Nigerians in Chartered Flight
The Republic of Ireland has deported at least 35 Nigerian nationals, including five children, via a chartered flight that departed Dublin Airport on Wednesday night and landed in Nigeria on Thursday morning.
Breakdown of Deportees: Men, Women, and Children
According to reports from the Irish Mirror, the deported individuals included:
21 men
9 women
5 children
The flight, which was arranged specifically for the deportation exercise, reportedly made an unscheduled stopover due to a medical incident on board. Despite the interruption, all deportees safely arrived in Nigeria, according to Irish authorities.
Ireland’s Justice Minister Confirms Deportation
Speaking on the matter, Irish Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, said he was “happy to say” all passengers arrived in Nigeria safely.
“Ireland has a rules-based immigration system. It is important that those rules are robust and enforced,” O’Callaghan stated.
However, no further details were provided on the individual reasons for the deportations.
NIDCOM Says It Was Not Informed
Reacting to the incident, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) said it was not notified ahead of the deportation exercise.
Abdur-Rahman Balogun, spokesperson for NiDCOM, told journalists:
“We were not informed. No prior notice was given to the Commission regarding this deportation.”
The lack of communication has raised concerns about the coordination between foreign governments and Nigerian authorities when handling deportation matters involving citizens abroad.
Questions Raised Over Process Transparency
The mass deportation, especially involving children, has triggered debate over:
Transparency in deportation processes
Ireland’s compliance with international protocols
The Nigerian government’s preparedness and response
Rights groups are expected to weigh in on whether due process was followed and what reintegration measures are in place for the returnees.
