One of the 103 Nigerians who were sent back from Turkey on Friday claimed that the host country receives €120 daily per immigrant detained at the camp.
The Federal Government had received at least 103 Nigerians deported from Turkey due to issues related to migration, such as expired visas and irregular migration. Alhaji Tijani Ahmed, the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), made this announcement on Friday evening.
During the profiling of the deportees in Abuja, Ahmed, represented by Amb. Catherine Udida, the Director of Migration Affairs in the commission, mentioned that they were anticipating 110 deportees but only received 103, all of whom were males. Some of them had been in the deportation camp for several months. They aim to investigate all the allegations gathered during their profiling. According to Ahmed, the passports of some deportees were confiscated, and they intend to address this issue with the Turkish authorities. Furthermore, he assured that the passports are the property of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Ahmed also stated that the NCFRMI is the mandated agency responsible for all returnees, regardless of their status. The commission has a program that involves training and reintegrating the returnees into society. Similarly, Mr. Bashir Garga, the North-Central Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), assured the returnees of the government’s readiness to support them through collaborative efforts involving all relevant agencies.
I was detained for 6 months – Deportee
One of the victims, Mr Arinze Stone, said that Turkish authorities arrested and detained him in the camp for about six months.
Stone said he had been living in Turkey for quite some years doing business.
“They were arresting people whose paper are not yet out or just expired,” he said.
He alleged that it was since the European Union started paying Turkey for illegal immigrants, that the government stopped issuing and renewing resident permits.
“Each day, the European Union pays 120 Euros per head of immigrants in the Immigration Camp.
“Ever since I had been in Turkey, I always had my resident permit renewed. It just got expired and Turkish authority collected 700Euros from me for tax and insurance and then cancelled the renewal,” he explained.
Stone added that the deportation fee of about 2,500 Euros that was supposed to be given to each victim was not paid.
‘I have been running a company for 8 years’
Another victim, Mr Moses Emeh, said he had a registered company in Turkey which had been functioning for more than eight years.
“I also have a resident permit, which was forcibly cancelled but I had earlier planned to convert it into working permit.
“I don’t know where to start from. But I believe this is a diplomatic issue and I trust our foreign affairs minister, to follow it up.
“I also think that they should have a sensitisation programme for Nigerians still living over there in Turkey, because the Turkish government is not being sincere and transparent with us,” Emeh stated
He narrated that he was arrested and put in a dungeon, for 11 months and three weeks.
“I was told that, If I did not sign the deportation documents, I will have to stay in their custody for one year to two years, after which I could be released and given immigration documents to sign, then be reintegrated into the system. But, they never fulfilled that.
“I also know that occupying a territory, without a permit is a crime, but mine was forcibly terminated twice, and I took the case to court.
“Since my case was already in court and the court was yet to preside over my case, I don’t think it is right for them to deport me,” he added.
The returnees were given some dignity kits, starter packs and stipends to enable them travel to their respective places.