By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News

A Nigerian man deported from the United States has alleged that Ghanaian authorities secretly transferred him and five others into Togo after initially receiving them under a controversial repatriation agreement with Washington. The man, who spoke anonymously to the BBC for security reasons, said he is now stranded in a hotel in Lomé, Togo’s capital, without legal documents or clear support.

How the Deportation Unfolded

According to the Nigerian deportee, he and other West Africans were first flown from the US to Ghana on a military plane, shackled and under heavy guard. Ghana had reportedly agreed to receive deportees from across West Africa under what President John Mahama described as an arrangement based on “pan-African empathy.”

However, after initially being placed in a military camp in Ghana, where conditions were described as “deplorable,” the man and five others were allegedly told by Ghanaian immigration officers that they were being moved to a hotel for better accommodation. Instead, he claims they were taken through a back route into Togo after officers bribed local border police.

“They did not take us through the main border,” he said. “They paid the police there and dropped us in Togo.”

Stranded and Struggling in Lomé

Four of the group, including three Nigerians and a Liberian, later checked into a hotel in Lomé, relying on remittances from relatives abroad to cover their bills. With no passports or permits, they say they are “just stuck” and struggling to survive.

The deportee further expressed concerns about his safety, citing his membership in the Yoruba Self-Determination Movement, an activist organisation campaigning for a breakaway Yoruba nation in south-west Nigeria. He fears returning to Nigeria could expose him to arrest and persecution.

He also lamented the personal toll of the deportation, saying:

“I have a house in the US where my kids live. How am I supposed to pay the mortgage? My kids can’t see me, and it’s just so stressful.”

Ghana, Togo, and US Silent on Allegations

Neither the Ghanaian nor Togolese authorities have commented on the allegations of secret transfers and border irregularities. Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, had earlier defended the decision to receive deportees, insisting the move was not financially motivated.

Meanwhile, the US has not explained why the Nigerian man—who claimed he was under a court-ordered protection status—was deported in the first place. Lawyers representing the deportees are reportedly preparing legal action against both the US and Ghanaian governments, arguing that their rights were violated.

Broader Implications and Reactions

The case has stirred debate across Nigeria and Ghana, with critics accusing Accra of betraying African solidarity by allegedly “dumping” non-Ghanaian deportees across borders. On social media and forums such as Nairaland, some Nigerians expressed outrage, linking the incident to historical exploitation and modern-day failures of governance.

Observers told Akahi News that the matter underscores growing tensions over the US “third-country deportation” strategy, which has already faced backlash from several African governments.

With another batch of 40 deportees reportedly scheduled for transfer, analysts warn the controversy could escalate unless transparency and human rights safeguards are prioritised.

Akahi News will continue to monitor developments surrounding this deportation saga, especially as affected individuals and their lawyers pursue justice.

Akahi News http://www.akahinews.org