A Nigerian man, deported from the United States to Ghana, has revealed to the BBC that he and five other deportees are now stranded in a hotel in Togo after being secretly transferred across the border by Ghanaian officials. The man, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, claimed they were promised better living conditions but were instead abandoned in Togo without proper documentation or support. The group, consisting of three Nigerians, a Liberian, and others, had initially been held in a military camp in Ghana under deplorable conditions. They were later told they would be moved to a hotel for improved comfort but were instead taken through a back route into Togo, allegedly after bribing local police. Togolese authorities have yet to comment on the matter. The Nigerian deportee expressed concerns about his family in the US, including financial struggles and the inability to see his children. He also revealed his affiliation with the Yoruba Self-Determination Movement, a group advocating for a breakaway state in Nigeria, which he fears could lead to his arrest and torture if he returns to his home country. The US government has not provided a reason for his deportation, which was carried out under a controversial ‘third-country deportation’ policy. Lawyers for the deportees have initiated legal action against both the US and Ghanaian governments, alleging violations of their rights. Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, previously stated that the country accepted the deportees out of ‘pan-African empathy,’ but opposition MPs have called for the suspension of the deportation agreement until it is ratified by parliament.
Deported from the US to Ghana then ‘dumped’ at the border: Nigerian man speaks out
