28 March 2012
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UK: Augustine's deportation to Nigeria
On March 27th, Augustine, a Biafran independence activist was deported to Nigeria, where his brother has been killed and his wife and children are missing. He is still laid up with the injuries he sustained by the five thugs who twisted his neck and kicked and punched him to the ground while handcuffed. Unable to afford medical care, we fear for his life.
Three anti-deportation activists leafleted and spoke to passengers
to ask them to intervene should they hear Augustine struggling
get off the flight. One man whose family was on the flight joined
us.
On hearing his cries, people responded. And Augustine was removed.
But the airport authorities returned with police and dragged
one man Ayodeji Omotade off the plane, which provoked even more
solidarity. All 136 passengers in economy class were removed
from the flight but Augustine was brought back on hours later
and deported - alone with his warders and the first class passengers.
Ayodeji missed his brother's wedding, had his bags lost and money seized and was ordered to report to a magistrates court to prove this money was not the proceeds of crime! He has been banned from flying with BA.
This treatment of Ayodeji has caused uproar around the world
and growing numbers of Nigerians - over a thousand already -
are threatening a boycott the company should BA not back down
and issue a full public apology for what is seen as overt and
humiliating racism suffered by Ayodeji and the other passengers.
Ayodeji deserves our full solidarity. His actions and that of
other passengers in defense of Augustine are an example to all
of us - and the first steps towards defeating the grotesque system
of detention and deportation of migrants. In the growing campaign
to take on the outrageous conduct of BA, which has got the attention
of mainstream media across the UK and Africa, we also want to
highlight Augustine's fate, and the sheer bloody-mindedness of
booting off a plane load of Nigerians needing to fly in order
to proceed with the rendition of a man who they know faces persecution
and now the challenge of overcoming the terrible physical and
mental injuries he suffered at their hands.
The Campaign Against Immigration Controls will be making contact
with air transport workers to build solidarity and non-compliance
with forced deportations
See: Campaign Against
Immigration controls (website)
See also: Nigerians
call for boycott of BA after deportation (Independent,
link)
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