The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced plans to deport no fewer than 79 Nigerians convicted of various crimes, as part of a renewed crackdown on criminal immigrants.
Checks on the DHS official website by Punch on Monday revealed that the affected individuals were listed under a special category described as “worst-of-the-worst criminal aliens.” Their offences reportedly range from fraud and drug trafficking to robbery, assault, manslaughter, and other serious crimes.
In a statement accompanying the list, the DHS said the deportations align with the U.S. government’s commitment to removing criminal immigrants from the country.
“The Department of Homeland Security is spotlighting the worst-of-the-worst criminal aliens arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE),” the agency stated.
“Under Secretary Noem’s leadership, DHS and ICE personnel are delivering on President Trump’s promise to carry out mass deportations, beginning with the most dangerous offenders.”
Among the Nigerians listed are Boluwaji Akingunsoye, Ejike Asiegbunam, Emmanuel Mayegun Adeola, Bamidele Bolatiwa, Ifeanyi Nwaozomudoh, Aderemi Akefe, Solomon Wilfred, Chibundu Anuebunwa, Joshua Ineh, Usman Momoh, Oluwole Odunowo, Bolarinwa Salau, Oriyomi Aloba, Oludayo Adeagbo, Olaniyi Akintuyi, Talatu Dada, Olatunde Oladinni, Jelili Qudus, Abayomi Daramola, Toluwani Adebakin, Olamide Jolayemi, Isaiah Okere, Benji Macaulay, and Joseph Ogbara.
Others named include Olusegun Martins, Kingsley Ariegwe, Olugbenga Abass, Oyewole Balogun, Adeyinka Ademokunla, Christian Ogunghide, Christopher Ojuma, Olamide Adedipe, Patrick Onogwu, Olajide Olateru-Olagbegi, Omotayo Akinto, Kenneth Unanka, Jeremiah Ehis, Oluwafemi Orimolade, Ayibatonye Bienzigha, Uche Diuno, Akinwale Adaramaja, Boluwatife Afolabi, Chinonso Ochie, Olayinka A. Jones, Theophilus Anwana, Aishatu Umaru, and Henry Idiagbonya.
Also on the list are Okechukwu Okoronkwo, Daro Kosin, Sakiru Ambali, Kamaludeen Giwa, Cyril Odogwu, Ifeanyi Echigeme, Kingsley Ibhadore, Suraj Tairu, Peter Equere, Dasola Abdulraheem, Adewale Aladekoba, Akeem Adeleke, Bernard Ogie Oretekor, Abiemwense Obanor, Olufemi Olufisayo Olutiola, Chukwuemeka Okorie, Abimbola Esan, Elizabeth Miller, Chima Orji, Adetunji Olofinlade, Abdul Akinsanya, Elizabeth Adeshewo, Dennis Ofuoma, Quazeem Adeyinka, Ifeanyi Okoro, Oluwaseun Kassim, Olumide Bankole Morakinyo, Abraham Ola Osoko, Oluchi Jennifer, and Chibuzo Nwaonu.
Meanwhile, anxiety has reportedly spread across Nigerian communities in several U.S. cities as the Trump administration intensifies house-to-house immigration enforcement operations.
Reports indicate that while some undocumented Nigerians have gone into hiding, others are quietly returning to Nigeria to avoid formal deportation procedures.
The DHS enforcement drive has also sparked protests, legal battles, and renewed debates over human rights concerns, following a number of high-profile encounters involving federal immigration officers.