Finland yesterday deported more than 100 Nigerians who have sought asylum in the European country.The deportees, some of whom have stayed in Finland for over one year arrived the cargo terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos at 7am yesterday with a cargo airline called, Privilege Gourment. They included children, women and some with their immediate family.
One of the deportees, Mr Isaac Ejiofor, told journalists that the affected Nigerians had no criminal records in Finland, wondering why they should be deported after spending over one year in the asylum camp.
Ejiofor who explained that he was initially in Greece, said he went to Finland to seek asylum so that he could get documents that would enable him work in the country.
He alleged that the Finland authorities only picked up and deported Nigerians where they were found among other African nationals.
When asked if the Nigerian Embassy at Finland was aware of their plight, Ejiofor said the embassy was aware but refused to come to their aid after paying 1,500 euro to the embassy officials in Finland.
He said, “The policeman asked me what I want since I do not have any criminal record to warrant my deportation.
“I said I wanted to work and live a normal life in Finland, so he (policeman) told me to seek asylum and I did that.
“I was taken to the asylum camp and was there for about more than a year processing my documents that will permit me to work.”
Another deportee, who only gave his name as Jackson, said the Nigerian Embassy officials in Finland must have colluded with some Finland Immigration authorities to extort money from asylum seekers in the camp.
He said that the embassy officials, however, promised to assist them to get working permit from the Finland authority.
A female deportee simply called Esther, said that she and her husband has been in Finland over 14 years, but was surprised that they were deported without committing an offence.
She said that she was deported along with her seven year-old daughter and husband without any compensation.
She said that other Africans in the camp were given an opportunity to stay and work in Finland, but that the Finland authority were hostile to Nigerians.
She appealed to the Federal Government to come to their aid, particularly Nigerians in Finland and other Europe nations.
She said that most of the Nigerians at the asylum camp in Finland came from other European countries like Greece, Denmark, Sweden and Norway to seek asylum to be able to get working documents. - Culled from leadership online.
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