Sixteen Nigerians who came into Ghana to seek for greener pastures have been deported to Nigeria for allegedly engaging in cyber crimes, the Nigerian Vanguard has reported.
The 16 deportees are males, with ages ranging from 19 years to 24 years.
These deportees, according to Nigerian authorities, are young Nigerians who claimed that they were deceived or intentionally went out of the country in search of greener pastures.
One of the deportees, Richard Paska, a 24-year-old graduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University said that he was lured to Ghana by the promise of a good job.
“My father had to look for money to let me go in February 2021, so that I could start a job. The job was a networking business, but when I arrived in Ghana, the story changed,” The Nigerian news media stated on their website.
“I was managing myself with some Nigerians when some of the personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service arrested us and brought us back to Nigeria.”
It added, “I had intended to come back but I did not have the transport fare. I really regret going to Ghana,” he said.
According to the West Africa nation tabloid, the Seme Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Dr Chukwu Emeka, the Controller of the Command, disclosed this during a news conference in Seme, Lagos State, that the deportees are young Nigerians who claim that they were deceived or intentionally went out of the country in search of greener pastures.
On means within which these economic immigrants were rounded up by Ghanaians authorities, it mentioned that Ghana’s Financial and Intelligence Agency, which accused them of cyber crime, but from their preliminary investigation, we discovered that some of them were lured into these criminal activities due to the get-rich syndrome our youths are developing.
“Some of them are victims in the sense that they were deceived that they can make money if they leave Nigeria. Unfortunately, they don’t get the actual thing they bargained for in Ghana,” The newspaper said.
“Further investigation also showed that most of them left the country through illegal routes or through the sea to other West African countries.”
It reported that they also discovered that most of these Nigerians travelled to Ghana without genuine travel documents, so when they got to Ghana they became prey to the authorities.
The Comptroller General of NIS, Mr Idris Jere, has always advised Nigerians to get genuine travellers’ documents before leaving the country, adding that it was painful to see young Nigerians getting involved in some unholy activities when they were supposed to be building their talents for their future.
Emeka, therefore, urged Nigerians to always travel with valid documents and that they should live and do their businesses according to the laws of the land they travel to.
He added that the Comptroller General of NIS, Mr Idris Jere, advised Nigerians to get genuine travel documents before leaving the country.”
On the movement of people within the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) the Seme Immigration Comptroller stated that Nigerians are part of the ECOWAS treaty of free movement and goods within the sub-region.
Dr. Emeka, however, advised that the condition is that Nigerians must enter those countries through a legitimate route and with the right travel documents.
Emeka said these are victims in the sense that they were deceived that they can make money if they leave Nigeria. Unfortunately, they don’t get the actual thing they bargained for in Ghana.”
It added that further investigation also showed that most of them left the country through illegal routes or by sea to other West African countries.
“We also discovered that most of them travelled without genuine travel documents, so when they got to Ghana they fall prey to the authorities.”
Emeka disclosed that the Government of Ghana had contacted the Seme Command of NIS that they would be repatriating more Nigerians soon.
