The Seme Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) said in a briefing on Friday that 16 Nigerians were sent home from Ghana because they were accused of committing cybercrimes there.
The Controller of the Command, Dr. Chukwu Emeka, disclosed this at a press conference in Seme, Lagos State.
Emeka claims that these are young Nigerians who say they fled the nation on purpose or after being duped in quest of better opportunities.
“Ghana’s Financial and Intelligence Agency accused them of cyber crime but from our preliminary investigation, we discovered that some of them were lured into these criminal activities due to the get-rich syndrome our youths are developing.
“Some of them are victims in the sense that they were deceived that they can make money if they leave Nigeria. Unfortunately, they don’t get the actual thing they bargained for in Ghana.
“Further investigation also showed that most of them left the country through illegal routes or through the sea to other West African countries.
“We also discovered that most of them travelled without genuine travel documents, so when they got to Ghana they became prey to the authorities.
“The Comptroller General of NIS, Mr Idris Jere, has always advised Nigerians to get genuine travellers’ documents before leaving the country.
“Yes, we are part of the ECOWAS treaty of free movement and goods within the sub-region, the condition is that you must enter those countries through a legitimate route and with the right travel documents.
“It is also important to have definite means of livelihood, if not; by the time you get there, they will see you as a public charge and they will return you to your country,” he said.
He lamented the fact that young Nigerians were engaging in sinful behaviour instead of honing their skills for the future.
Emeka emphasised the need for Nigerians to always carry proper documentation and abide by the local laws while abroad.
According to him, the Ghanaian government has informed the Seme Command of NIS that additional Nigerians will be repatriated soon.
When NIS has finished its investigation, the controller will fulfil his pledge to restore the repatriated individuals to their families.
Graduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University and deportee, Richard Paska, 24, claims he was enticed to Ghana by the hope of finding work.
“My father had to look for money to let me go in February 2021 so that I could start a job. The job was a networking business but when I arrived in Ghana, the story changed.
“I was managing myself with some Nigerians when some of the personnel of the Ghana Immigration Service arrested us and brought us back to Nigeria.
“I had intended to come back but I did not have the transport fare, I really regret going to Ghana,” he said.
The ages of the sixteen deportees range from 19 to 24 years.
