The United States has commenced the deportation of Nigerians found guilty of various criminal offences, with six individuals returned to Lagos on Wednesday as part of a larger operation expected to affect thousands.
The deportees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport aboard a Delta Airlines flight shortly before 9 a.m., where they were received by officials from multiple Nigerian agencies responsible for further processing.
Authorities familiar with the operation revealed that over 3,000 Nigerians are marked for deportation in the coming months. The exercise is part of the U.S. government’s ongoing crackdown on illegal immigration and criminal activity among non-citizens.
The move reflects a broader immigration enforcement strategy that gained momentum under previous U.S. administrations and continues to shape current deportation protocols.
Nigerian officials have not yet released details of the specific offences committed by the returnees, but emphasised that the country will follow due process in handling each case.