Nigeria cracks down on illegal aliens February 25, 2007

Interestly, Nigeria has begun to crack down on illegal immigrants, however, there are no calls of racism, in contrast to how the subject of racism has dominated U.S. discussions on the topic of illegal immigration. 

Nigeria is cracking down on “illegal aliens” from neighbouring countries whom the authorities call a “nuisance”. Niger and Chad seem to have been singled out in the clampdown with thousands of their nationals packed into lorries and taken to the border.

People from Ghana, Togo, Cameroon and other West African countries have also been removed from at least eight major cities across the country.

Politicians are accused of importing “ghost voters” ahead of April polls.

“The truth is that it is because of the elections,” an immigration official who did not want to be named told the BBC News website.

“You know people from Niger speak Hausa which is the language of northern Nigeria and they are Muslims. Because of this cultural affinity, it’s easy for them to pretend to be Nigerians and vote in the elections,” the source said.

But the official reason given for the deportations is that the illegal aliens constitute a “public nuisance and security risk”.

Nigeria’s Interior Minister Olu Adeniji told the BBC that “only vagabonds and those engaged in armed robbery and other illegal acts” were being targeted in the immigration sweep, but did not give any figures.

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