Nigerians living in Algeria are currently living in fear as the authorities ramp up their efforts against illegal immigration, resulting in the deportation of 40 individuals for overstaying their visas or possessing fraudulent documents.
The group, which includes 37 men and three women, returned to Abuja on February 4, 2025, at 8:10 PM on a Turkish Airlines flight, as confirmed by an official document obtained by [item].
Sources indicate that many Nigerians in Algeria are opting to go into hiding to evade arrest and potential deportation. Among those who were deported are individuals such as Ibrahim Abdullahi from Kano State, Sani Adamu from Katsina State, and Barau Muazu also from Kano State.
Algeria has heightened its crackdown on illegal immigration, resulting in a wave of deportations affecting numerous migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, notably including Nigerians.
Human rights organizations have expressed alarm over these actions, drawing attention to issues like racial profiling and the dire conditions faced by those who are deported.
In recent years, Algeria has been known for conducting mass deportations of migrants from sub-Saharan countries. For example, a report from Amnesty International in 2017 revealed that more than 2,000 migrants were expelled in just three weeks, with allegations of widespread racial profiling accompanying these arrests.
More recently, in 2024, the NGO Alarme Phone Sahara estimated that over 30,000 migrants were deported from Algeria to Niger, marking a significant rise in such activities.
These deportations have raised profound human rights concerns, with reports suggesting that many migrants are abandoned in desolate areas near the Niger border, where they face severe conditions and a lack of essential supplies.
The Rosa Luxemburg Foundation has commented on Algeria's expulsion practices, labeling them as "ruthless and illegal," highlighting the unprecedented numbers involved and the humanitarian crises unfolding in northern Niger.
Although specific figures on the number of Nigerians affected remain elusive, it is clear that they are among the many sub-Saharan migrants caught in Algeria's immigration enforcement efforts.
The wider implications of these deportations underscore the difficulties faced by migrants from various West African nations, including Nigeria, as they strive for better opportunities while confronting stringent immigration regulations and significant human rights challenges.
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