story of an enterprising young Nigerian who got deported from iceland
after leaving there for four years now. For no other reason other than
he's not wanted.
Eze Okafor, a 32 year old man fled Nigeria 6 years ago in
2010,after being terrorised by the deadly islamic sect-Boko Haram.
According to him, he fled the country because the sect wanted to
recruit him as a member by force. He said that twice he and his
brother were attacked for not consenting to join the group. The second
time, his brother was killed while he escaped with injuries on his
face where he was stabbed by assailants.
Thereafter, Eze saw the need to flee for his life,and he did. He
made a very risky journey by boat to Europe and sought asylum in
Sweden. His plea was rejected despite showing the authorities his
fresh and infected wounds. He made his way to iceland, applied for
asylum in 2012,but that was also denied.
After the deadline for his asylum request elapsed(6months), he was
told to have his asylum request processed at the immigration. He got
to the immigration and another twist in the case came up:
"The police said I should come to sign and all of a sudden they took
me into custody. They arrested me. I spent the night in jail,"
"They next morning they said they were
deporting me. I said I should go and get my stuff
from my house. They said no. They took me to
the airport and manhandled me."
Eze also added that the treatment he received from the immigration
unit, did not go down well with his friends who raised protests.
"In Iceland, I have been integrated into society, with so many
friends. A lot of people know me. So when the police was beating me,
when I was arrested, there was a lot of reaction."
On may 26, he was handcuffed and put on a plane for deportation.
Two members of a human rights group tried to rouse other passengers of
the plane to protest against the treatment, but that only got them
arrested.
He was taken back to Stockholm in Sweden, and in place of the only
ID he had- his driver's license, a paper was handed to him which
stated that he had no rights to any financial assistance or whatsover.
He spent his first night on the streets.
Fear of the unknown.
Eze has been given a deadline of June 1, to leave Sweden or be
deported, this time straight to Nigeria. Today, Eze is uncertain and
confused about his future. But he believes one thing, returning to
Nigeria would mean death for him.
"The activities of Boko Haram are real and are at all levels of the
government. They have a network" he said.
He said his mother taught him how to cook, and that he loves cooking
Nigerian dishes. Adding that cooking is his passion, and that he loved
his job working in a restaurant in Iceland.
He also talked about the possibility of his going back to iceland.
And opening a restaurant.
"When I was in handcuffs on my way to Sweden, I was pleading with
them," Eze said. "I am not a criminal. I did not commit any crime. I
am asking for refuge. They should treat me like a human."
He lamented with pain.
