This is really a wake up call for us and it really put shame on my face and makes me sad for being a Nigerian.

National Emergency Management Agency on Monday said the  215 Nigerian fishermen stranded  in  Gabon had returned to the country, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

A statement issued by the agency’s Head of Public Relations, Mr. Yushau Shuaib,  the Nigerians arrived in the country on Sunday.

The statement said NEMA decided to help the fishermen back in the country  after the Gabonese authorities issued an eviction notice to fishermen living in Nende, Mouka and Kenza Islands.

According to the statement, the Nigerians were asked to leave the country even though a majority of them have lived there for  decades.

NEMA  said the returnees from Bayelsa, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Imo and Abia states  were flown into Port Harcourt International Airport before their onward journey to their respective home states.

The agancy said,”The fishermen had indicated their willingness to be returned with their families after the eviction notice.

“Before the evacuation process,  the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other  agencies made an on-the-spot-assessment.”

meanwhile, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has criticised the  deportation of  the fishermen from  Gabon.

In a statement  on Monday, the lawmaker  described the deportation  as “unwarranted hostility against Nigerians doing legitimate business in Gabon by the Gabonese government”.

She said those deported were involved in legitimate business in central African  country and wondered why such people should be humiliated having lived in Gabon for decades and contributed to its development.

Dabiri-Erewa called on the Federal Government and other stakeholders to look into the matter urgently and rehabilitate those affected with human dignity in line with its Citizen Diplomacy policy.

She also called on NEMA to ensure that the deportees were well rehabilitated and taken care of pending the resolution of the matter.

The National Emergency Management Agency on Sunday night evacuated 215 Nigerian fishermen from Gabon to Nigeria.

NEMA said the evacuation became necessary after the Gabonese authorities issued an eviction notice to Nigerian fishermen.

It said the affected fishermen lived in Nende, Mouka and Kenza islands, although majority of them had lived there for many decades doing  legitimate businesses.

Moderator, front page pls.

andre99: Moderator, front page pls.

Link to the story?