In a shocking revelation, a Nigerian man, Obasuyi Bright, has accused German authorities of subjecting him to brutal torture and forceful deportation despite medical warnings against his travel. He also claims that Nigerian immigration officers were complicit in his ordeal.
In an exclusive interview with Sahara Reporters, Bright, a native of Benin City, Edo State, recounted the harrowing details of his deportation, describing it as a “nightmare.” He alleged that in the early hours of January 22, 2025, German police stormed his home in Munich, dragged him out of bed, and took him to an undisclosed location before bundling him onto a plane bound for Nigeria.
“They came for me like I was a criminal,” Bright recalled. “They tied me up, ignored my cries for help, and threw me into the plane like baggage.”
According to Bright, his ordeal did not end there. He alleged that he was shackled with handcuffs and chains, had an iron pressed against his neck, and was intermittently suffocated throughout the flight.
“I begged for mercy, but they kept torturing me,” he said. “The iron on my neck and the chains on my legs caused excruciating pain. I cried, but no one listened.”
Bright claims that German authorities were fully aware of his medical condition—schizophrenia—and had been advised against deporting him. He stated that a Munich-based doctor had issued a report declaring him unfit for air travel, which his lawyer had submitted to the German government. Despite this, he was forcibly deported.
The authorities knew I was not fit to fly, but they ignored the medical advice. They treated me like an animal,” he lamented.
Upon arrival at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Bright said he was in critical condition and was rushed to a hospital. However, he was allegedly denied treatment and abandoned at the airport with an intravenous drip still attached to his arm.
“A Nigerian immigration officer looked at me with pity and said, ‘We are sorry for what happened to you, but we don’t have the power to do anything,’” Bright recounted.
He claimed that after being turned away from a Lagos hospital due to the severity of his condition, he was returned to the airport and left to sleep on the floor.
“I woke up outside the hospital. They said my condition was too bad to treat and took me back to the airport. I was abandoned like a piece of luggage,” he said.
Bright revealed that he had been living in Germany under a “Duldung” (temporary suspension of deportation) while pursuing Ausbildung training. He had legal representation and had submitted medical attestation proving he was unfit for deportation.
However, on January 22, German police allegedly stormed his residence at night, restrained him, and transported him against his will.
“They kidnapped and molested me,” he said. “They tied me up, mocked me, and laughed at my lawyer, saying no one could save me.”
Bright also alleged that during the deportation flight, he was restrained so tightly that he could barely breathe. Despite his cries for help, the German officers continued their abuse.
I begged a woman in an observer uniform to help me. She looked into my eyes, smiled, and walked away,” he said.
Nigerian Immigration’s Role in the Ordeal
Bright insists that Nigerian immigration officers failed in their duty to protect him. He believes they were aware of the inhumane treatment he suffered yet did nothing to intervene.
“Nigerian immigration officials watched as I was tortured and did not challenge the German officers,” he said.
Even after his arrival, the negligence allegedly continued. He claimed that he was later handed ₦10,000 by Nigerian officials, who admitted that the Consul General had acknowledged his mistreatment after seeing video evidence.
Now that I have miraculously survived, both German and Nigerian authorities must be held accountable,” he said.
When Sahara Reporters contacted the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Kenneth, for a response, there was no immediate comment.
Bright’s story raises serious concerns about the treatment of deportees and the alleged complicity of Nigerian immigration officers in the abuse of their own citizens. Human rights activists have called for an urgent investigation into his claims, demanding accountability from both German and Nigerian authorities.
As his cries for justice grow louder, many are left wondering—how many more Nigerians have suffered similar fates in silence?
PIONEER NEWS 