The Republic of Ireland has deported at least 35 Nigerians, including five children, in a chartered flight that left Dublin Airport on Wednesday night and landed in Nigeria on Thursday.
According to the Irish Mirror, the deportees comprised 21 men, nine women, and five children.
Irish Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, confirmed the deportation, saying he was “happy to say” all the individuals arrived in Nigeria safely despite an unscheduled stopover prompted by a medical incident on board.
While the Irish government did not provide specific reasons for the deportation, O’Callaghan said, “Ireland has a rules-based immigration system. It is important that those rules are robust and enforced.”
In response, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) said it was unaware of the deportation.
NiDCOM spokesperson Abdur-Rahman Balogun told newsmen that the commission had not received prior notice of the action.
