02 May 2008 |
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With over 3,000 Nigerians calling for the boycott of British Airways over the maltreatment of 135 Nigerian passengers and Ayodeji Omotade on March 27, 2008 onboard BA flight bound for Lagos (Nigeria) from Heathrow, London, the battle-line seems to have been drawn and affecting relationship with other British departments. Mr. Ayodeji Omotade was arrested for speaking to officials restraining an illegal immigrant that was shouting for help and not only was he taken off the flight, he was charged to court. The aftermath of the whole saga is the tension that this latest incident is generating in the Nigerian community. Was Ayodeji wrong to ask or make enquiry about what was happening? Was the treatment of Ayodeji Omotade by British Airway justified? Was the manner the illegal immigrant was handle justified in the eye of the law? The UK policy is clear about the restrain of persons subject to removal: “…The use of such restraints is authorised only according to strict guidelines. In using restraints, the safety and security of the detainee and the safety of the escort and the public are the foremost considerations. Only escorts who have had training in their use and who have Enforcement Instructions and Guidance undergone an approved first aid course may use mechanical restraints, and under no circumstances may any restraints be applied to the upper body, neck or head of the detainee. In considering whether to obtain authority to use restraints, escorts must consider whether there are reasonable grounds for believing that an unrestrained detainee may use violence or seek to abscond, taking his history into account. Escorts must also ensure that there are no medical reasons why restraints should not be used. Whilst on board a ship or aircraft the escort will be acting under the authority of the master/commander of the vessel and the use of any form of restraint must be with his explicit agreement, although once again under no circumstances may any restraints be applied to the upper body, neck or head of the detainee…” (Home Office Detention Policy). According to Mr Ayodeji’s account of the incident, he heard “... noises from an individual being forcibly restrained but who was not visible because some police officers and some plain clothes people held him down. The noise continued for more than 20 minutes and I was concerned because the individual was screaming in agony and shouting in pidgin English "I go die" meaning, I will die. I pleaded with the officers not to kill him and my exact words were "please don't kill him" If this account is true, then the UK Border Agency and British Airways should be investigated for the mistreatment of the detainee in their custody. The law is quite clear that strict rules should be applied when restraining individuals subject to immigration rules. However, Nigerians seem to be treated harshly and with impunity by the British authorities for many years without any action or protest. Just shortly after the May 2007 election, Nigerian Foreign Affair Permanent Secretary was delayed at Heathrow whilst he was in the United Kingdom to meet with his UK counterpart and there are horrible accounts of officials speaking to Nigerians rudely and using dogs to search their bags, something they would not do to the Americans or Saudi-Arabians. Though, Mr Ayodeji has called for a front-page apology in a national Nigerian daily newspaper to all passengers on flight BA0075, a written apology and appropriate compensation, the Airline is still not moved by the threat of “worldwide boycott of British Airways by Nigerians,". In response, British Airways said: "Police were called to the BA75 service to Lagos on 27 March after a large number of passengers became disruptive. Many were removed. We take any threats against our crew or passengers very seriously and this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated." It is time to stop the mistreatment of Nigerians by the British authorities and many Nigerians were pleased to read in one of Nigeria popular papers (Nigeria Tribune) that the Federal Government is investigating the concerns raised by Nigerians. However, the situation is so tense that many Nigerians overseas are hoping that their government would make them proud by going an extra mile to prove that Nigerians were unhappy. During a call-in show on Naija FM 101.1 in London, the caller wanted the senators to summon the British Ambassador for an explanation and also hoping that the Nigeria High Commission in the UK would write to the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, to request for an official investigation into the removal of 136 Nigerians from the BA flight on the 27th of March 2008. Many foreign analysts of Nigeria press are surprised that many news editors have refused to push on the matter, which is quite unfortunate. “Are they true upholders of Nigeria’s pride” was the question my white work-colleague asked me during a tea-break at work. I was too angry to respond because I know the UK newspaper would not tolerate that type of insult from any country or corporation. Dr Sola Martins
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