I have no cash, nowhere to sleep and know no-one around here, laments UK deportee

Alfred Efosa, one of the persons deported to Nigeria from the United Kingdom on Tuesday, says he has no where to spend the night.

“I am tired of talking, I need cash. Please! Please! I don’t want to say anything again. I am tired of talking. I need money for hotel; I don’t have anywhere to sleep tonight,” he told TheCable at the cargo wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

After much persuasion, the man, who refused to have his picture taken, agreed to speak, revealing that he was born of a Gambian mother and a Nigerian father.

Efosa said he has never been to Nigeria but was sent to the country on the account of his father being a Nigerian.

In an emotion-laden tone, Efosa narrated his ordeal, confessing that he was involved in theft and imprisoned for two years before his eviction.

“Right now, I am confused. I don’t know anyone or anywhere around here. I don’t have anywhere to go and there’s no cash on me to get an accommodation.

“I’m totally confused. I’m stranded here and don’t know what to do or where to go.”

One of the affected persons, who simply identified himself as Henry, accused officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service of receiving bribe from the UK authorities “to deport citizens illegally into this country”.

The man, who claimed to have spent nine years in England, expressed worry over the inability to contact his family back in the UK.

“I was sleeping when some uniform men came to my house and bundled me to the airport only to find myself in Nigeria,” he said.

“I can’t even communicate with my people in the UK. My family is worried about me and getting in touch with them now is a big challenge. My kids and my brother are there in the UK, and I am sure they will be worried about my whereabouts by now. I have tried to call them but couldn’t get through to them.

“The Nigerian government should stop taking bribe from the UK government at the embassy and be sincere to the people. This is unacceptable. We should be treated with respect and care as every other citizen. This country should wake up and stop engaging in modern slavery. This is a democratic dispensation where the government is duly responsible to the citizens.”

While others narrated their experiences, a young man sat at a corner, with worries all over his face, he showed no interest in speaking.

“I am not from Nigeria, I am from Barbados,” he muttered, before lowering his head.

Efforts to speak with officials of the cargo unit at the airport proved abortive, as they declined any comment.

According to the immigration, 50 persons were evicted from the UK.