The Republic of Ireland has deported 35 Nigerians, including five children, in a chartered flight that left Dublin Airport on Wednesday night and landed in Nigeria on Thursday.
According to a report by the Irish Mirror, the deported individuals included 21 men, nine women, and five children. The Irish Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, confirmed the deportation, stating that all returnees arrived safely in Nigeria despite a medical emergency that caused an unscheduled stopover during the flight.
“I’m happy to say they all returned to Nigeria,” O’Callaghan said. “Ireland has a rules-based immigration system. It is important that those rules are robust and enforced.”
Although the Irish government did not provide specific reasons for each deportation, the move appears to be part of Ireland’s broader immigration enforcement efforts, aimed at removing individuals who no longer have legal rights to stay in the country.
However, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) said it was not informed about the deportation. Spokesman for NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, told the press that the commission was unaware of the return of the 35 Nigerian nationals.
This development has raised concerns among Nigerians about the growing trend of mass deportations from European countries. In recent years, several Nigerians have been deported from countries such as the UK, Germany, and Italy due to issues ranging from overstaying visas to rejected asylum claims.
Deportations involving children often draw public attention, especially when the affected families have been living abroad for long periods. However, Irish officials maintain that deportation decisions are based on strict legal processes.
Many Nigerians living in Europe face challenges related to immigration status, access to work permits, and legal residency. While some seek asylum for safety or economic reasons, not all applications are approved.
NiDCOM has previously said it is working with foreign governments to ensure the rights of Nigerians abroad are protected, and to provide support when deportations or forced returns occur.
It is unclear whether the 35 deportees will receive any immediate reintegration assistance upon arrival in Nigeria.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the deportation.
