Over 1,000 Nigerians stranded in UK over forged employment offers
More than 1,000 Nigerians have fallen victim to fraudulent activities of a syndicate group and are currently stranded in the United Kingdom, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has revealed.
According to the United Nations Migration Agency, the group specializes in swindling persons under the pretext of offering them employment.
These Nigerian citizens are rejected by the supposed employment companies after they arrive in the U.K., having obtained visas with fake employment letters from the organization.
According to the IOM, over 260,000 Nigerians approached it in 2023 alone seeking migration options through approved routes and Pre-Departure Medical Health Assessments.
Nigerian media outlet Vanguard reported that the IOM’s Chief of Mission, Laurent De Boeck indicated during a news conference in Abuja on December 18 that some victims lost thousands of dollars in an attempt to secure foreign employment.
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Some of these persons are currently stranded either because of inadequate funds to return or the embarrassment they feel.
“There are some of them who lost over $10,000 only to be given fake employment letters which allowed them to get visas. They get there, present the letters and the organisations would tell them that the letters did not emanate from the organisations. Over a thousand people are affected,” De Boeck was quoted by Vanguard.
The IOM has hinted at collaborative plans with partners to repatriate thousands of immigrants of different nationalities including Nigerians and Tunisians.
Meanwhile, there are concerns about displacements in many states of North West in Nigeria with Zamfara and Kano being the most impacted.
