A few weeks ago I was on my way to a friend’s house when I saw an immigration truck go by. The street fell eerily quiet as the truck passed, it was trailed by three danfos packed with people followed by another truck filled with soldiers holding guns.
I remember thinking what a strange sight it was as I continued on my way. I arrived at my friend’s apartment building to find it strangely empty. Usually a large group of Hausa men sit outside the building, there’s a small kiosk, a fruit seller, some maruwa drivers and a security guard. They were nowhere to be seen.
As I went into the building I saw a teenage boy hiding in a corner. I greeted him and he greeted me, his face etched with worry. Before I started to explain to my friend the strange goings on he informed me that immigration officials had come to the building, rounded up all the Hausa men outside, packed them into buses and promptly driven off.
A few days later the security guard called my friend. The immigration officials had dropped him in Niger because he didn’t have an identity card. He would try and make his way back to Lagos, he said, but he wasn’t sure when.
The scenario left me with questions. On what ground did these officials take these men into their custody ? Many of them were employed, they didn’t seem to be creating a nuisance, (my friend said many people in the building tried to beg the officials to leave the men alone, to no avail.) so why? If they felt as if any of these men were a potential threat, why not arrest them and take them into custody as opposed to just dumping them wherever? Aren’t these people Nigerians, living and working in their own country? So why should they be degraded and humiliated in such a fashion?
My conclusion isn’t pleasant. I can only think of prejudice and tribalist reasons to justify such a practice. Assuming these people were born and bred in this country are they not entitled to freedom of movement? Freedom to leave their states in search of something else? Or is it because they don’t contribute to the ideal image of what Lagos is supposed to be? Because they don’t drive Range Rovers or haven’t lived in the abroad? Why are ajebutters greeted with welcoming arms and some citizens with unwarranted disdain and distrust?
What is a Nigerian? What does it mean to be one?Security is one of the biggest threats facing the country now but does that mean unjustly victimising people is now standard practice?
If so,how can anyone expect the country to succeed or even survive?