By Abiola Olawale
The United Kingdom has deported 43 individuals classified as immigration offenders to Nigeria and Ghana.
The deportation, executed via a charter flight, included 15 failed asylum seekers, 11 foreign national offenders who had served their sentences, and seven individuals who returned voluntarily, according to a joint statement from the UK Home Office and the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO).
“Those removed had no right to be in the UK and included 15 failed asylum seekers and 11 foreign national offenders who had served their sentences. Seven people returned voluntarily,” the statement noted.
However, the statement also did not clarify whether all the deportees were citizens of Nigeria and Ghana or how many were sent to each country.
The New Diplomat reports that this is the latest deportation to Nigeria and Ghana since UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer took the reins of power in 2024.
Since taking over last year, Starmer has overseen two charter flights carrying 87 people to Nigeria and Ghana.
Last October, 44 Nigerian and Ghanaian asylum seekers were deported. It was the highest number of deportees in a single flight from the country.