By Samson Echenim
— Dec 12, 2014 | Leave a comment
Finland yesterday deported more than 100
Nigerians who have sought asylum in the
European country.
The deportees, some of whom have stayed
in Finland for over one year arrived the
cargo terminal of the Murtala Muhammed
International Airport (MMIA), Lagos at 7am
yesterday with a cargo airline called,
Privilege Gourment. They included children,
women and some with their immediate
family.
One of the deportees, Mr Isaac Ejiofor, told
journalists that the affected Nigerians had
no criminal records in Finland, wondering
why they should be deported after spending
over one year in the asylum camp.
Ejiofor who explained that he was initially in
Greece, said he went to Finland to seek
asylum so that he could get documents that
would enable him work in the country.
He alleged that the Finland authorities only
picked up and deported Nigerians where
they were found among other African
nationals.
When asked if the Nigerian Embassy at
Finland was aware of their plight, Ejiofor
said the embassy was aware but refused to
come to their aid after paying 1,500 euro to
the embassy officials in Finland.
He said, “The policeman asked me what I
want since I do not have any criminal
record to warrant my deportation.
“I said I wanted to work and live a normal
life in Finland, so he (policeman) told me to
seek asylum and I did that.
“I was taken to the asylum camp and was
there for about more than a year processing
my documents that will permit me to work.”
Another deportee, who only gave his name
as Jackson, said the Nigerian Embassy
officials in Finland must have colluded with
some Finland Immigration authorities to
extort money from asylum seekers in the
camp.
He said that the embassy officials, however,
promise to assist them to get working
permit from the Finland authority.
A female deportee simply called Esther, said
that she and her husband has been in
Finland over 14 years, but was surprised
that they were deported without committing
an offence.
She said that she was deported along with
her seven year-old daughter and husband
without any compensation.
She said that other Africans in the camp
were given an opportunity to stay and work
in Finland, but that the Finland authority
were hostile to Nigerians.
She appealed to the Federal Government to
come to their aid, particularly Nigerians in
Finland and other Europe nations.
She said that most of the Nigerians at the
asylum camp in Finland came from other
European countries like Greece, Denmark,
Sweden and Norway to seek asylum to be
able to get working documents.

Nigeria is richer than Finland,yet Nigerians seek asylum in that cold region. Sad.

What do they have? Okporoko and ice.