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The Journal
3 hours ago
- Politics
- The Journal
'A week ago we were safe in Ireland': Family at centre of Red Cow deportation speak out
A NIGERIAN FAMILY whose deportation case was highlighted by a Dublin school principal last week have spoken out about the conditions they have faced since they were removed from Ireland. Oluwanifemi Winfunke said the past week had been a 'nightmare' for him, his wife and three children. 'It is distressing and heartbreaking that a week ago my wife and children were safe in Ireland,' he told The Journal . The former banker said his family had come to Ireland seeking refuge from the 'scar of the past' brought by kidnapping incidents, 'hoping for a safe haven before this illegal deportation brought us back into what we feared most'. Five children and thirty adults were removed from Ireland on a chartered flight last week as part of the Department of Justice's crackdown on enforcing immigration rules. Outcry over the family's removal was led by Ciarán Cronin, the principal of St James Primary school in Dublin 8 – he told The Journal that two of the children who were removed from the state had been pupils at his school had made themselves part 'of our school fabric, part of our school lives', during their three years in Ireland. Children who were friends with the three Winfunke kids told The Journal last week of their devastation at realising their peers were being deported, and of their fear over what it meant for their own family. The hotel is part of the international protection system. St James Primary school in Dublin 8 Google Streetview Google Streetview After his family were brought from the Red Cow Hotel on the outskirts of Dublin to the Nigerian capital Lagos last week, Winfunke said they have been 'huddled together in a cramped, dilapidated room' as they try to find their footing. 'My family are crying at the moment, they are scared of where we are,' Winfunke told The Journal , adding that gun shots were heard near where they are staying earlier this week. Advertisement They arrived in January 2022, with Winfunke working full-time in Dublin over recent years. Outlining the family's reasons for leaving Nigeria, Winfunke said that they were living comfortably before two kidnappings incidents. 'I was abused, tortured, and traumatised during these times. We were recovering from these scars of the past kidnappings that happened to me, which my wife also suffered a lot during this time,' he said. 'My daughter was also targeted. We had settled in Ireland seeking refuge from the scar of the past, hoping for a safe haven before this illegal deportation brought us back into what we feared most.' He added: 'We have been rendered homeless once again by the Justice Minister after all the pleas from our loved ones in Ireland who see all the effort we have put in since.' Experiences of deportees The family are just one of several people subjected to last week's deportations who spoke to The Journal about their experiences. Many of the men who were deported on last week's flight had been arrested a number of weeks ahead of the chartered flight. Several described how they were brought weeks in advance of the plane journey to Cloverhill Prison in Dublin, where some slept on mattresses on the floor due to overcrowding. Winfunke said it was an alien experience for many of the men, as they were separated from their families and friends ahead of the deportation. A number of the deportees said they were repeatedly offered drugs in prison but refused – one alleged he was beaten by a fellow prisoner as a result. Several of the people who spoke to The Journal said they arrested by gardaí after turning up to a routine appointment with immigration officials. 'We're not criminals, you gave us an appointment. I was given a time, I went there, and I got picked up,' said one man who had been residing in Ireland since 2009. 'We go to the appointments because we're not criminals.' Related Reads Minister to bring forward plans to purchase Dublin's Citywest Hotel Gary Gannon: Fear is what drives immigration protests in neglected communities, not hatred Anti-immigration picket over refugee accommodation sparks tensions in Dublin's Liberties The appointments are similar to bail or dole sign-ons and take place regularly while a person is seeking permission to remain in Ireland. When asked why they were refused permission to remain in Ireland, a number of the men quoted the phrase, 'the interest of the state is more than individual interest' as the reasoning given to them by immigration officials. Others said they were told that it was 'the minister's decision' and that their deportation would need to take place as a result. Emergency stop on last week's flight Three of the men on the Zoom call with The Journal raised concerns over the welfare of one of their friends on last week's flight. The flight made an emergency stop after two passengers became unwell on board, and one was brought by medical personnel to the hospital after landing in Nigeria. Today, the deportees said they have not been able to track down their friend and don't know where he ended up. 'We are concerned for him, we have tried different contacts and can't find him.' A number said that Nigeria was 'not safe' for them, telling of persistent threats against them and their family. One man immediately went on the run and fled to nearby Ghana after his deportation last week. Another man, who had been working as a team leader in a food factory in Dublin, said he had been unable to trace his parents since returning. He said they face persecution by a Jihadist group, which, as recently this week, has been subject to calls by Catholic bishops over its lethal attacks on communities in Nigeria. For this and other reasons, such as the full-time employment they had secured, all of the men were determined to return to Ireland despite last week's. 'It's our home, it's where we have made our lives,' one man explained. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The South African
12-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Nigerian midfielder to Kaizer Chiefs?
Kaizer Chiefs may have a new midfield star from the continent next season. ADVERTISEMENT KAIZER CHIEFS TO SIGN NIGERIAN MIDFIELDER? Looking at Amakhosi's current midfield, coach Nasreddine Nabi does not have enough options to compete with the likes of Yusuf Maart and Thabo Cele. According to Soccer Laduma, the 25-year-old US Monastir midfielder Kingsley Michael is on the radar of the Kaizer Chiefs. 'He is currently playing in Tunisia and there are scouts who have been monitoring him there and he has been doing very well,' a source told the outlet on Kaizer Chiefs' moves. 'That's why he is back on Chiefs' radar. They haven't finalised the shopping list for next season as they are still looking at the players which they can afford and get. Kingsley Michael is one of those they are considering. Meanwhile, the same publication has claimed that Kaizer Chiefs have increased the club's spending budget this coming winter. 'You know the budget went up? Yes, it's because they want to get almost all their targets this season and to do that they are willing to pay this time around. ADVERTISEMENT 'So you know Kingsley is playing in Tunisia and they will need good money to bring him to Naturena, and they are believed to be working on doing just that,' an additional insider said. WHO ELSE SHOULD AMAKHOSI SIGN? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Zawya
02-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Nigerians react to new N6 SMS transaction fee amid growing discontent over banking charges
NIGERIAN bank customers have expressed widespread dissatisfaction following the introduction of a new N6 fee for each SMS transaction alert, a policy jointly implemented by the banking sector regulator and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). The revised fee, up from the previous N4 per SMS, took effect today and is expected to be automatically deducted from customers' bank accounts. According to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the new structure was designed to replace the previous per-session USSD billing model and standardize charges across banks. The fee will be remitted to mobile network operators, with the apex bank stating that this change offers a more transparent and consumer-friendly billing framework. For numerous customers, especially low-income earners who rely heavily on USSD services for day-to-day transactions, the added cost is yet another financial burden. Critics argued that the move is not only ill-timed but could further alienate the unbanked population, undermining CBN's long-standing financial inclusion goals. 'This policy is out of touch with the reality of ordinary Nigerians,' said Mr. Yusuf Adebayo, a civil servant. 'Instead of encouraging people to embrace banking, it discourages them. A low-income earner making frequent transactions will feel the pinch of this fee over time.' Banks like GTBank and Fidelity Bank have encouraged customers to adopt their mobile banking apps, which do not incur SMS or USSD charges. Yet, some customers remained skeptical. One customer, who spoke anonymously, alleged that banks have been charging multiple telco fees for single transactions long before this policy was formalised. 'There are days when I get charged more than once for a single transaction,' the customer said. 'It feels like we're being bled dry from every angle.' On social media, Nigerians have taken to platforms like X (formerly Twitter) to express their frustrations and divergent opinions. One user, Arch Angel Jesse, downplayed the fee hike, suggesting the public outcry was misplaced. 'I don't think this is a problem the way the news is making it seem. Only N2 extra and it's breaking news!' Jesse posted. 'All the money lost in NNPC is still not making the news but N2 extra is breaking!!! Very few people understand where I am coming from, and that is still the problem of this country Nigeria.' However, another user, @asia_valking, offered a different perspective. 'N2 is not a problem? It will be when you receive alerts from 20 different transactions, or you multiply it by 50 million accounts. Their next target will be N10.' Joshua Eze, another customer, drew a comparison with telecom practices in the United Kingdom. 'In the UK, once you pay for your internet data, calls and SMS are essentially free. Think of providers with their flexible plans and no extra charges for calls or texts. Meanwhile, Nigerian business leaders keep adding burdens like this N6 SMS fee, doing more harm than good to citizens already struggling,' he said. Hyginus Ogbuike, a resident in Lagos, blamed both the government and its corporate allies for continually making life more difficult for Nigerians. 'It started long ago. If they can increase salaries by 100 percent across all levels, it will be tolerable,' he said. Several analysts have also weighed in on the debate, accusing banks of deliberately withholding in-app transaction alerts to force customers into accepting SMS-based notifications that incur charges. 'Normally, your mobile banking app should notify you of every transaction,' said one tech analyst based in Lagos. 'But Nigerian banks have intentionally left out that feature. Even when you go to the bank to cancel SMS alerts, they ask you to fill a form, and in many cases, the alerts still don't stop.' An anonymous top-level banker explained that the policy is backed by the CBN's Guide to Charges by Banks and Other Financial Institutions, which mandates SMS alerts as a safeguard against fraud. 'Banks are required to send SMS alerts on every account activity. It's not optional unless the customer formally opts out, and even that comes with legal risk.'
