Deported Nigerian Man Stranded in Togo: A Story of Misplacement and Struggle
A Nigerian man who was deported from the US to Ghana found himself stranded in a hotel in Togo after being secretly transferred by Ghanaian officers. The man, along with five others, was promised better accommodation but ended up in Togo without proper documentation. The group was taken through a back route and allegedly bribed local police to enter Togo without informing the authorities.
The deportees, including three Nigerians and a Liberian, checked into a hotel in Lomé, the capital of Togo, with no documents of their own. They relied on support from relatives abroad to cover their expenses. Struggling to survive without proper documentation, they are waiting for legal assistance to resolve their situation.
The Nigerian man described the poor living conditions at the military camp in Ghana where they were initially placed. They requested better facilities but were unexpectedly taken to Togo under the guise of being transferred to a hotel for more comfort. The language barrier in Togo, where French is spoken, added to their challenges.
The man expressed concerns about his family in the US and the impact of his deportation on them. He is affiliated with the Yoruba Self-Determination Movement, an activist group advocating for a breakaway state in Nigeria. Due to his involvement with the movement, he fears arrest and torture if he returns to Nigeria.
The US government has not disclosed the reason for his deportation, and the man claims he was under court-ordered protection that should have prevented his deportation. He was part of a group of West Africans deported to Ghana, including nationals from Togo, Liberia, and The Gambia, who were flown out in shackles on a US military plane.
The deportation policy has faced criticism, with some countries opposing the strategy. Ghana accepted the deportees without financial compensation, citing the free movement of people in West Africa. Legal action has been initiated against both the US and Ghanaian governments for violating the rights of the deportees.
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