Nigerian asylum seeker dies in Switzerland

  1. Posted on Friday 19 March 2010 - 13:25
    Sanday
    Image of Sanday
    Sanday Chongo Kabange, AfricaNews reporter in Lusaka, Zambia Photo: Not the Nigerian in question
    A Nigerian man on hunger strike has died on the tarmac at Zurich airport after Swiss authorities tried to deport him using a special flight to deport asylum seekers. Switzerland has since halted the use of special flights to deport asylum seekers following the unfortunate incident.
    nigeria taxi
    Hundreds of African immigrants and asylum seekers annually die while attempting to relocate to Europe and United States in search of comfort and better living conditions.

    Swiss police say the 29-year old Nigerian man was shackled and was being forcibly deported along with 15 other Nigerians whose asylum bids had been rejected.

    When he fell ill on Wednesday this week, the police took off his shackles and a doctor tried in vain to revive him.

    Swiss authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

    Police said they had shackled the man because he had resisted deportation. Two Nigerian witnesses quoted by the Swissinfo news website accused the police of inhumane treatment.

    "They treated us like animals," said one, called Emmanuel.

    "They shackled our feet, knees, hands, hips, arms and torso and made us wear a helmet like those worn by boxers. It was simply impossible to move," he said.

    Thousands of Africans have died while attempting such missions to relocate to Europe or United States in search of comfort and improved conditions of service.

    Some have died of thirty in deserts, others have drowned in deep sea waters while others have suffocated while being transported to their planned destinations of choice.

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