Desperate Nigerians Resort to Peculiar Tactics for Asylum: Lagos Police Uncover Scheme
The Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Command, has brought to light the desperate measures some Nigerians are resorting to in their quest for asylum abroad. The revelation was made by SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Command, in a statement shared on Saturday.
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Hundeyin expressed astonishment as he narrated an encounter with an individual who explicitly requested to be declared wanted by the police. The person’s bizarre plea was unveiled during a conversation with Hundeyin, who recounted the surreal exchange.
“‘Please, declare me wanted!’ I was stupefied. I blinked and looked at him again. ‘What did you say?’ I asked,” Hundeyin stated.
Upon further inquiry, it was revealed that the individual was pursuing asylum at a foreign embassy and needed proof of being persecuted to support the claim. Rather than fabricating evidence, the person opted for an unconventional approach—requesting an official declaration of being wanted by the police.
“Actually, I am applying for asylum at XYZ embassy. During the interview, I told them that I was being persecuted to the point of being declared wanted by the Police. They now asked for evidence of the ‘wanted’ declaration. I can easily do the artwork but I know they will come and verify. That is why I want it from the source,” Hundeyin quoted the individual.
This peculiar incident sheds light on the extreme lengths some Nigerians are willing to go to secure asylum, reflecting a broader trend highlighted by the International Organisation for Migration, IOM. In December 2023, the IOM reported that over 260,000 Nigerians sought assistance to leave the country, a surge that may be linked to escalating living costs within the nation.
As the authorities grapple with such unorthodox asylum-seeking tactics, it underscores the complexities and challenges individuals face in their pursuit of a better life beyond Nigeria’s borders.
