Local deportation saga: Obi draws battleline

Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has formally complained to President Goodluck Jonathan over the dumping of 72 people at Onitsha by the Lagos State Government.

Last week, 72 people were conveyed in a truck and escorted by armed security men and dumped in Onitsha overnight. The ‘deportees’ said they were picked up on Lagos streets, detained for months before being herded into the truck that was escorted to Onitsha overnight, where there were forced to disembark and abandoned.

In the protest letter, Obi stated that the “deportation” of people from Lagos to Anambra State was unconstitutional and disregard to the rights of those involved.

The letter reads:

“I wish to respectfully bring to your due attention a very disturbing development that has vast national security and political implications.  Last September and again on 24 July 2013, the Lagos State Government contrived inexplicable reasons to round up Nigerians, whom they alleged were Anambra indigenes (most of whom the SSS report shows clearly are not from Anambra State) and forcefully deported them to Anambra State, dumping them, as it were, in the commercial city of Onitsha (see attached SSS report).

“This latest callous act, in which Lagos State did not even bother to consult with Anambra State authorities, before deporting 72 persons considered to be of Igbo extraction to Anambra State, is illegal, unconstitutional and a blatant violation of the human rights of these individuals and of the Nigerian Constitution.

“Your Excellency, no amount of offence committed by these people, even if deemed extremely criminal, would justify or warrant such cruel action by a state authority and in a democracy.  Even refugees are protected by the law.  Furthermore, the extant provisions of the Nigerian Constitution states: ‘Every citizen of Nigeria is entitled to move freely throughout Nigeria and to reside in any part, thereof, and no citizen shall be expelled from Nigeria or refused entry thereby or exit therefrom.’

“Sir, forced deportation such as this, which Lagos State seems to be making a norm in addressing its domestic challenges are egregious, and calls into question the validity of Nigeria and its federating components. Such acts violate human decency, the rule of law and constitutionally-ordered liberties.

Naturally, I have the obligation to protect the interest and welfare of all Nigerians resident in Anambra State, irrespective of their states of origin and I would be left no option other than reciprocity or reprisal.  I will, however, put any such reaction in abeyance until Your Excellency has had the opportunity to address our concerns,” 

Meanwhile The Lagos State Government said yesterday that the 72 people ‘deported’ to Onitsha, Anambra State last week constituted a nuisance.

Fielding questions from newsmen after the state Security Council meeting chaired by Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), the Commissioner of Police (CP), Mr. Umaru Manko, said the state government only rehabilitated and resettled the people.

So, what next?