366 Nigerians Deported as Over 900 Remain in Detention Awaiting Removal
The dream of a new life abroad has taken a somber turn for hundreds of families as news confirms that 366 Nigerians Deported From Canada in a massive enforcement operation by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). This development, which marks one of the largest single-country removal exercises in recent years, has sent shockwaves through the diaspora community.
Beyond those already repatriated, official reports indicate that an additional 974 individuals are currently being held in various immigration holding centers across the North American country, facing imminent removal orders as the Canadian government tightens its grip on immigration compliance.
The surge in deportations follows a comprehensive review of asylum claims and visa statuses that failed to meet the rigorous requirements of the Canadian immigration system. Many of those affected are reported to be individuals whose refugee claims were denied or those who overstayed their temporary resident permits.
According to sources within the CBSA, the move is part of a broader policy shift aimed at maintaining the integrity of the national border while addressing a significant backlog of failed asylum seekers. The scale of the operation suggests a high-level coordination between Canadian authorities and international transport carriers to facilitate the swift return of these citizens to Nigeria.
The humanitarian impact of this mass removal is profound, with many of the deportees arriving back in Nigeria with little more than the clothes on their backs. Reports from the ground at the international airports in Lagos and Abuja indicate that the returnees are being processed by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and other social welfare organizations.
For the 974 Nigerians still in detention, the atmosphere is one of profound anxiety. Legal advocates in Canada have raised concerns about the speed of these removals, arguing that some individuals may still have pending humanitarian and compassionate grounds for appeal that have not been fully exhausted.
As the Canadian government continues to prioritize the removal of “non-admissible” foreign nationals, the Nigerian government has been urged to provide better support systems for those returning. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and risks associated with irregular migration and the increasingly strict stance of Western nations toward immigration enforcement. With hundreds still waiting in detention, the coming weeks are expected to see more chartered flights arriving in Nigeria, further highlighting a growing crisis that affects thousands of lives across two continents.