Buhari Govt Fumes As Ghana Deports 723 Nigerians

The Nigerians high commissioner to Ghana, Michael Abikoye, has protested the “inhuman treatment” of Nigerians by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS).

Naija News reports that the high commissioner, who was at a meeting with Kwame Takyi, the comptroller-general of GIS, said 723 Nigerians were deported over alleged illegal stay, cybercrime and prostitution between the January 2018 and January 2019.

Abikoye said 81 Nigerians were deported over alleged cybercrime and illegal stay in January, while 115 have so far been deported in February on the allegation of overstay and prostitution.

This online news platform understands that Abikoye warned against the inhuman treatment of Nigerians by Ghana, warning that any form of torture or ill-treatment of Nigerians would not be acceptable to the Nigerian government.

The high commissioner said though the high commission would not condone any form of criminality on the part of Nigerians, inhuman treatment and alleged torture of some Nigerians in Ghana would no longer be tolerated.

His words: “Although, the GIS had linked prostitution and cybercrimes as some of the reasons for the deportation, it is improper to deport Nigerians for alleged illegal stay in Ghana,” he said.

“There are several Ghanaians living in Nigeria and the Nigeria Immigration Service has never deported any of them on the ground of illegal stay, because of a sense of brotherliness between our countries.”

The high commissioner also showed photos of some of them who sustained injuries on their legs, arms and eyes in the process of being tortured.

According to Abikoye, the inhuman act was against the United Nations Convention against Torture.

The high commissioner appealed to the CG to prevail on his officials to treat Nigerians and other ECOWAS nationals with human face, caution and not as common criminals.

Responding, the CG acknowledged the existing bilateral relations between the two countries as earlier pointed by Abikoye.

According to Takyi, the GIS is being compelled to carry out repatriation because of the conduct of some Nigerian nationals in Ghana.

Takyi alleged that besides engaging in cybercrime and prostitution, “some Nigerians had become laws in themselves; they do road blockages in major Ghanaian streets where they drink, fight and stab one another“.

His words: “This unruly behaviour which contravenes the local laws in Ghana has led to directive from higher authority for their arrests and eventual deportation of those who do not have the requisite immigration papers,” he said.

He, however, promised to investigate alleged torture of some Nigerians.

The CG showed the ambassador a video of some Nigerians, obstructing justice by preventing the official vehicle of the GIS the right of way after arresting a Nigerian in Kasoa area.