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Nigerian deported from Ireland in coma

01 April 2002

Last Thursday 28th March 2002, Alabi Ayinde and five other Nigerians were put on a private charter flight to Lagos, accompanied by around 20 Irish immigration guards.

On arrival in Lagos the six were handed over to Nigerian immigration officials who then took the six to prison. At the prison the governor refused to accept Alabi as was unconscious. Alabi was taken to a nearby hospital where he was diagnosed as being in a coma, he remains there surrounded by prison guards.

Background

Alabi, was first assaulted by immigration guards on the 11th March after his appeal hearing, when he lost his final appeal against deportation. The decision was bizarre as Alabi has an Irish son and the parents of Irish born children cannot be deported.

On the 12th March Alabi and 5 other Nigerians plus 2 Algerians began a hunger strike in Mountjoy prison. Attempts to deport some of these on the 21st March failed as they resisted. Immigration Guards tried to control the detainees and among others Alabi sustained further injuries. Another attempt to deport Alabi and the others took place on the 28th March. This time the Irish authorities had hired a private plane and brought in extra immigration guards. All the six detainees according to reports were very forcibly removed from Mountjoy prison and taken to the plane.