On Wednesday night, the Republic of Ireland deported 35 Nigerian nationals — including 21 men, nine women, and five children — via a chartered flight from Dublin Airport. The group arrived in Nigeria on Thursday, according to reports from the Irish Mirror.
The deportation flight experienced a brief, unscheduled stopover due to a medical emergency on board, but all individuals were successfully returned to Nigeria.
Ireland’s Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, confirmed the development, stating he was “happy to say” the repatriation was completed. Although no specific reasons for the deportations were disclosed, O’Callaghan emphasised the country’s adherence to a “rules-based immigration system,” noting the importance of enforcement.
Meanwhile, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) said it was not informed of the deportation. The agency’s spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, shared this during an interview with Punch Diaspora Tales on Thursday.
