Uncertainty Looms Over Nigerians In Algeria As 40 Are Deported And Others Await Fate

The deportation of these individuals is said to be linked to overstayed visas and irregular documentation. According to an official report obtained by SaharaReporters, the deportees—comprising 37 men and three women—arrived in Abuja on February 4, 2025, at 8:10 p.m. aboard Turkish Airlines flight TK623.

A source familiar with the situation revealed that many Nigerians in Algeria are now living in fear, with several hiding to escape arrest and deportation. Among those affected are Ibrahim Abdullahi from Kano State, Sani Adamu from Katsina State, and Barau Muazu from Kano State.

Algerian authorities have intensified efforts to combat illegal immigration, leading to the mass deportation of sub-Saharan African migrants, including Nigerians.

Human rights organizations have condemned these actions, raising concerns about racial profiling and the harsh conditions faced by deportees. Algeria has a history of expelling sub-Saharan migrants, with over 2,000 deported in a three-week period in 2017, according to Amnesty International. Reports also indicated that over 30,000 migrants were deported to Niger in 2024, with many left stranded in desert regions near the Nigerien border, enduring severe hardship and lacking basic necessities.

While the exact number of affected Nigerians remains unclear, it is apparent that many are caught in Algeria’s sweeping immigration crackdown.