Germany set to deport 12,000 Nigerian asylum seekers as 128 others die in Mediterranean Sea

- The German government plans to deport 12000 Nigerians who are seeking asylum in the country

- Abike Dabiri-Erewa, senior special assistant to the president on diaspora affairs, says the German embassy in Nigeria has intimated her office about the plan

- She describes the development as unfortunate, adding that 128 Nigerians died, while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea

The German government plans to repatriate 12,000 Nigerians who are seeking asylum in the country.

This was disclosed by Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Diaspora Affairs, on Tuesday, April 4, at the public presentation of two books “From Libya with Tears’’ and “Practical News and Feature Writing’’ written by former Managing Editor/Director of News Agency of Nigeria, Mr Dele Bodunde

Germany set to deport 12,000 Nigerian asylum seekers as 128 others die in Mediterranean Sea

According to a report on NAN, Dabiri-Erewa said that the German Embassy in Nigeria had intimated her office on plans to repatriate at least 12,000 Nigerian asylum seekers from the European country.

Dabiri-Erewa, represented by her Special Assistant on Media, Mr Abdul-Rahman Balogun, also noted that about 128 Nigerians died while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea.

She described the situation as unfortunate, noting that it showed Nigerians desperation to get to Europe by all means.

Abike Dabiri-Erewa says Germany is set to deport 12,000 Nigerian asylum seekers as 128 others die in Mediterranean Sea

“Just some days ago, 128 Nigerians died in the Mediterranean sea out of 576. Most of them were from West African countries and they were on their way to Europe.

“Now, this is an unfortunate incident and I think it is better to remain in Nigeria and keep struggling, instead of making desperate journeys that could take their lives,’’ she said.

Nigerians had been trapped in Libya and were subjected to various inhuman treatments.

According to Dabiri-Erewa, it took the intervention of the federal government which ensured the return of many of them.