Editorial
On Nigerian Deportees
Even as Nigeria is still pondering over the effects of the xenophobic attacks being suffered by her citizens in South Africa, the country received 161 of her nationals deported from Libya, a couple of days ago.
Among these deportees brought back home by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) were 60 males, including 51 adults, two children and seven infants as well as 101 females consisting of 92 adults, seven children and two infants. They were brought back to the country after spending many months in Libyan detention facilities. There were nursing mothers, heavily pregnant ladies and the ill among the deportees.
The sight of these deportees singing songs of praise and chantings as officials of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA and Nigeria Immigration Service received them at the Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) told the harrowing experience they must have had while in Libya.
According to the deportees, the conditions of their stay in detention were very harsh and many lost their lives in that country. Among their tales of woe were the dehumanizing treatments meted out to them in that country and the manner they were arrested and locked up for months before IOM came to their rescue.
Sadly, it was not the first time Nigerians would be deported from Libya and other countries. In December last year, 154 Nigerians were brought back from Libya. Even before that, at least 550 Nigerians were brought back in batches between March and November last year under what the IOM called a voluntary return programme. Only last month, Cameroon forced about 517 Nigerian refugees who fled Boko Haram attacks, including 313 who had requested asylum, back to Nigeria.
While many of these deportees were living and working in Libya, especially, during the Gaddafi era when the country was stable and prosperous, most were in Libya enroute Europe. They had left Nigeria in search of better living conditions, particularly in Europe through Libya. Most of them had already made very hazardous journey overland through Niger Republic into Libya.
These perilous journeys are organized by vicious human trafficking syndicates who extort thousands of dollars from hapless greener pasture seekers in order to ferry them across the Sahara. From Libya, these unfortunate persons undertake very risky voyages through the Mediterranean Sea into Europe.
Unfortunately, most of them are often caught in the cross fire of the militia currently battling for control in Libya or outrightly abandoned by their guides, exposing them to untold hardship and death.
Being undocumented persons, reaching out to Nigerian Embassy or seeking legal protection becomes difficult, if not impossible, when in trouble. Most of them become easy preys for prostitution gangs and other nefarious activities that make them vulnerable.
However, the penchant to pick on Nigerians in foreign lands by their hosts is to say the least worrisome. It appears that there are different sets of rules of engagement for Nigerians and other nationals and this should be a cause for serious concern. We think that Nigerians, even those at the wrong end of the law in foreign countries, should be treated fairly and according to internationally accepted standards.
While we urge fairness and justice in handling Nigerians abroad, we believe that the desperation by many to embark on ill-advised and dangerous odysseys, even when ill prepared and poorly equipped, is not worth the risks.
That is why The Tide thinks that Nigerians’ usual quick resort to escaping abroad, Europe especially, through the back door should not be the first choice for those in search of greener pastures. It is on record that even those who eventually make it to Europe found it not to be a bed of roses as initially envisaged.
Nigerians must be prepared to work hard at home and contribute to making the country great, economically and otherwise. The fact that some of the deportees knelt and kissed the earth on disembarking in Lagos shows that there is no place like home.
Therefore, it is time for Nigerians to roll up their sleeves, show love and commitment to the nation and work to make the country what they wish it to be.
But the government must begin to take deliberate steps towards building and strengthening citizens’ faith in the country. Policies that will encourage the youth to stay back and work, and the rich to invest in the country must be pursued with vigour.
Enabling environment for self actualization must be a top priority in order to discourage the urge to travel abroad at the slightest opportunity. Our youth must have the platform and motivation to look inwards and develop themselves and the country rather than being easily lured by the promise of often non-existent lucre abroad.
Moreso, while we believe that Nigerians must be good ambassadors of the country and good residents of their host countries, the country must, as a matter of necessity, begin to demand that her citizens must be accorded due respect in all situations. There are least acceptable standards and internationally best practices expected of all countries even in handling criminals.
We must no longer accept harsh and dehumanizing treatments Nigerians are subjected to across the world, most times by our African brothers. This is because no matter the reasons, Nigerians are no less humans.
It began as a seemingly minor in- flight disagreement. Comfort Emmason, a passenger on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, reportedly failed to switch off her mobile phone when instructed by the cabin crew. What should have been a routine enforcement of safety regulations spiralled into a physical confrontation, sparking a national debate on the limits of airline authority and the rights of passengers.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) wasted no time in condemning the treatment meted out to Emmason. In a strongly worded statement, the body described the incident as “a flagrant violation of her fundamental human rights” and called for a thorough investigation into the conduct of the airline staff. The NBA stressed that while passengers must adhere to safety rules, such compliance should never be extracted through intimidation, violence, or humiliation.
Following the altercation, Emmason found herself arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court and remanded at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison, a location more commonly associated with hardened criminals than with errant passengers. In a surprising turn of events, the Federal Government later dropped all charges against her, citing “overriding public interest” and concerns about due process.
Compounding her woes, Ibom Air initially imposed a lifetime ban preventing her from boarding its aircraft. That ban has now been lifted, following mounting public pressure and calls from rights groups for a more measured approach. The reversal has been welcomed by many as a step towards restoring fairness and proportionality in handling such disputes.
While her refusal to comply with crew instructions was undeniably inappropriate, questions linger about whether the punishment fit the offence. Was the swift escalation from verbal reminder to physical ejection a proportionate response, or an abuse of authority? The incident has reignited debate over how airlines balance safety enforcement with respect for passenger rights.
The Tide unequivocally condemns the brutal and degrading treatment the young Nigerian woman received from the airline’s staff. No regulation, however vital, justifies the use of physical force or the public shaming of a passenger. Such behaviour is antithetical to the principles of customer service, human dignity, and the rule of law.
Emmason’s own defiance warrants reproach. Cabin crew instructions, especially during boarding or take-off preparations, are not mere suggestions; they are safety mandates. Reports suggest she may have been unable to comply because of a malfunctioning power button on her device, but even so, she could have communicated this clearly to the crew. Rules exist to safeguard everyone on board, and passengers must treat them with due seriousness.
Nigerians, whether flying domestically or abroad, would do well to internalise the importance of orderliness in public spaces. Adherence to instructions, patience in queues, and courteous engagement with officials are hallmarks of civilised society. Disregard for these norms not only undermines safety but also projects a damaging image of the nation to the wider world.
The Emmason affair is not an isolated case. Former Edo State Governor and current Senator, Adams Oshiomhole, once found himself grounded after arriving late for an Air Peace flight. Witnesses alleged that he assaulted airline staff and ordered the closure of the terminal’s main entrance. This is hardly the conduct expected of a statesman.
More recently, a Nollywood-worthy episode unfolded at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, involving Fuji icon “King”, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1. In a viral video, he was seen exchanging heated words with officials after being prevented from boarding an aircraft.
Events took a dangerous turn when the aircraft, moving at near take-off speed, nearly clipped the 68-year-old musician’s head with its wing. Such an occurrence points to a serious breach of airport safety protocols, raising uncomfortable questions about operational discipline at Nigeria’s gateways.
According to accounts circulating online, Wasiu had attempted to board an aircraft while he was carrying an alcoholic drink and refused to relinquish it when challenged. His refusal led to de-boarding, after which the Aviation Minister, Festus Keyamo, imposed a six-month “no-fly” ban, citing “unacceptable” conduct.
It is deeply concerning that individuals of such prominence, including Emmason’s pilot adversary, whose careers have exposed them to some of the most disciplined aviation environments in the world, should exhibit conduct that diminishes the nation’s reputation. True leadership, whether in politics, culture, or professional life, calls for restraint and decorum, all the more when exercised under public scrutiny.
Most egregiously, in Emmason’s case, reports that she was forcibly stripped in public and filmed for online circulation are deeply disturbing. This was an act of humiliation and a gross invasion of privacy, violating her right to dignity and falling short of the standards expected in modern aviation. No person, regardless of the circumstances, should be subjected to such degrading treatment.
Ibom Air must ensure its staff are trained to treat passengers with proper decorum at all times. If Emmason had broken the law, security personnel could have been called in to handle the matter lawfully. Instead, her ordeal turned into a public spectacle. Those responsible for assaulting her should face prosecution, and the airline should be compelled to compensate her. Emmason, for her part, should pursue legal redress to reinforce the principle that justice and civility must prevail in Nigeria’s skies.