At least 35 Nigerian nationals, including five children, have been deported from the Republic of Ireland, arriving in Nigeria on Thursday after being flown out on a chartered flight from Dublin Airport the previous night.
According to reports, the deportees comprised 21 men, nine women, and five children. The chartered flight experienced an unscheduled stopover due to a medical incident on board but eventually completed its journey to Nigeria.
Irish Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan, confirmed the deportation, stating he was "happy to say" that all the deportees had successfully returned to Nigeria despite the medical incident that caused the delay.
Ireland's Immigration Stance
While the Irish government did not provide specific reasons for the deportation of these Nigerian nationals, O'Callaghan emphasized the importance of maintaining Ireland's immigration policies.
"Ireland has a rules-based immigration system. It is important that those rules are robust and enforced," O'Callaghan explained, suggesting the deportations were part of regular immigration enforcement measures.
This deportation comes amid increasing scrutiny of immigration policies across Europe, with many countries tightening border controls and enforcement of existing regulations.
The Nigerian government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the return of these citizens or any plans for their reintegration.
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