One hundred and three Nigerians have been deported from Turkey over irregular migration, expired visas and other related offences.
Alhaji Tijani Ahmed, the Federal Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) stated this on Friday evening, during the deportees’ profiling in Abuja.
He was represented by Amb. Catherine Udida, the Director of Migration Affairs in the commission.
He said the commission was expecting 110 but received 103.
“Some of them have been in the deportation camp for some months, and now that they are here, we are hoping to follow up on all the allegations gathered in their profiling.
“We will go through the profiling forms because some of them have said that their passports were seized.
“We are going to follow up with the Turkish authority because the passports are still the property of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he assured.
One of the victims, 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 papers 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 expired and the Turkish authority collected 700 euros 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.
Another victim, 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 a 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 would 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.
