X-rayed in Malta

In June 1990, I was subjected to a search at Malta Airport. The officers did their job with care and dignity as they stretched me to the limits. After about an hour delay, I was taken to the hospital where two stand-by doctors x-rayed my chest, or should I say my body. What were they searching for? No one cared to tell me. After they had satisfied with me, my passport was returned, and then I was allowed to go. "Enjoy your stay in Malta," said the immigration officers who had accompanied me to the hospital.

I do not remember what I felt on that day, but I knew they attacked my good name and reputation. I knew I was charged falsely or with malicious intent. Although the officers refused to tell me my offence, I had obtained from one of the doctors that it was drug they were looking for. I was not angry but I remember I was sad. I thanked God. What if they had deliberately planted it during the x-ray? May Tochi, a Nigerian youth whose soul was abruptly terminated by Singaporean government for drug peddling – rest in peace. In perfect peace.

Dollar Before Entering Rome

In March 1995, I was on transit in Italy en-route Nigeria, my country. My transit visa allowed me to stay in Italy for two days if I so wish. I was the only non-white on the plane. Along the immigration control I was separated from other passengers by a man appeared to be immigration officer. He pointed to another route for me to follow. I refused, especially when he could not tell me the reason why among hundreds of passengers, I was singled-out. I was already furious but quickly surpressed such "evil" emotion. Anger has never helped me solve any problem. He followed me to the immigration counter where his colleague demanded for my passport. I handed it.

"Nigaria," he announced rather than said, grimly. He then leafed through my passport. "You live Budapest...show me ID card."

"My Hungarian ID is for Hungary only," I retorted though it was with me.

"You want stay two day in Rome."

"I’m on transit."

"How much you have?"

"You’re not my financial advisor."

It was at that moment he referred my case to his superior officer, who was not as rude. He too inspected my passport. "Okay, just show us $100."

"I have no money to show...I’m going to my country."

"Then you won’t see Rome."

"That’s fine with me. Absolutely fine with me."

Oh heck! I was going to spend my money in Rome anyway.  Besides, Nigeria was where my heart was.

On my way back, Italian immigration officers ordered Africans to form a separate line. Some of us protested, while some obeyed. Among those who obeyed was a Nigerian lady whose two little children carried British passport. It was genuine for they eventually allowed her to go, but she had to stay in a different line specially made for non-whites. They turned deaf ear to our protest to know the reasons behind such segregation.

How Many Kilo Do You Carry [Into America]?
 
In October 1996 – my first visit to the USA – America subjected me to their awful poetry of guilty by association. My ordeal started immediately we disembarked. I was not the only non-whites, but I was certainly the only Nigerian. A woman positioned herself in front of the aircraft as if she had been waiting for a scapegoat. As soon as she saw me – someone must have previously described me in details – she flashed her badge (custom), pointing to me to move aside. I ignored her – completely. Being a custom officer even gave me added confidence to neglect her. Besides, I simply detest it whenever someone single me out, especially pertaining to immigration issue. Afterall, there was no 9/11 then. Afterall, I would never engage in anything that may tarnish my image, and that of my country.

I continued walking. She followed me closely while making use of her walkie-talkie. Honestly, I was not afraid even though I had not travelled extensively then. But I knew I would have to see the immigration before custom. Within a twinkle of an eye, two men had joined in pursuing me. They were far from me but I knew their mission. They were closely observing me. For what, I thought. It was then it dawned on me that I might have opened a can of worms. 

Miami Airport is quite long. By the time I reached the immigration, the two gentlemen flashed their badges. "Immigration," one of them said.

"Good," I replied.

And so my agony started. They demanded for my passport, and then other documents. I handed it but it was obvious they were not satisfied. And so the drama (for that was what it was) started.

"Why didn’t you take a direct flight?" 

"Because it’s much more expensive."
 
"What were you doing in Amsterdam?"

"I was on transit"

"What’s your mission in the United States?"

"To join the Meridian Ship as a crew member."

Furore in Amsterdam

Then it flashed into my mind that I had caused furore in Amsterdam when I refused to declare my mission upon interrogation by Delta Airline desk officers in Amsterdam. For fifteen minutes I stood my ground, claiming that my mission in the United States was none of their business since they were not immigration officers. Besides, I had crew member visa in my passport. My Hungarian colleagues with the same visa were allowed to pass without any question. It was humiliation that brought tears. But I was determined not to show them my documents other than my passport –  the only document demanded from my Hungarian colleagues. Eventually, they allowed me to board since I won’t yield.   

Now I was facing the penalty?

"Where is your Hungarian I.D or something?" asked one of the immigration officers.

"In my passport. It’s in my passport."

He didn’t check it. "Any document from your employer?"

"Yes" I gave it to them.

"Original?"

"That’s all I received. It’s what others received too."

"You’re not going to New York tonight," the woman charged or boasted. "You’re going back to Lagos."

Lagos? I laughed. It was a joyful laugh. And it was at that moment I knew they did not even know what they were doing. Because I did not even obtain my visa in Lagos. There’s no way I could have been deported to Lagos. I laughed again when I realised that my laughter was hurting her. Let her be tortured like they were torturing me – just for the fun of it. I do not remember all the conversation, but I definitely remember the woman cutting in.

"Don’t play with me," she said with authority, "How many kilo do you carry?"

My joyful laugh flashed itself again. I was indignant at the way I was being treated, but I remained  confident.

"What!"

I was later told that my profile fitted that of a typical drug pusher. More than six months to be spent in America with only one hand luggage without any check-in; I did not only passed through Amsterdam where drugs are legalised to a certain amount, but I had caused furore. The drama was going on when one of them who had disappeared suddenly re-surfaced. "Let the boy go," he said. He had phoned my employer. What surprised me most was how quickly they changed their hostile attitude. They flashed their best smiles. It was contagious despite the sadness. "Welcome to the United States of America...it is because your country is in the black book of America."

And so what? I departed with the quote from one of their forefathers, "It is better for hundred criminals to go scot-free than to punish one innocent soul." Although my subsequent visits were smooth, the experience of that day lingers on.

Egyptian Immigration Deported Two Nigerians
 
In July 2004, I witnessed a situation whereby two Nigerians – a man and a woman – were sent back from Cairo Airport to Murtala Muhammad Airport. The man on the suspicion that his British visa was fake, while the woman on the suspicion that she had improperly obtained her Nigerian passport. I found out what appeared to be the truth, but then Egyptian immigration officer is neither British nor Italian immigration officer. Are they?

Passport Scrutiny in Hungary
 
In July 2006, I was going to Ireland to participate in a Socrates Course for Secondary School Teachers. It was on that day I realised the advantage of arriving much earlier at the airport. Hungarian immigration subjected me to a forty-minute-passport verification. My grudge was not even the eternity it took them to accept the genuineness of my passport, rather the logic behind such scrutiny.

For example, I have in my passport several in and out Hungarian stamps. Doubting the authenticity of my passport means the officer who delayed me on that very day was either doing it as a routine (Hungarian authority has seized many "suspicious" Nigerian passports) or never trusted the judgement of his colleagues who had stamped my passport more than fifty times, or simply transparently being mischievous.

Although it pains each time they punish me for the crimes they usually claim are being committed by fellow Nigerians, or being discriminated against because of my race, I take a little surreptitious pleasure in the fact that I and others like me have shown that not all Nigerians are criminals. And that to tell you the truth is my consolation for the immigration torture.

@February 2007

mysmallvoice@yahoo.com

Robot  Villager

# 1 X-rayed in Malta In June 1990, I was subjected to a search at Malta Air...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 14.02.2007 15:01

Aisha  Villager

# 2 Very nicely written article. Sad that one has to go through such, all in the name of being Nigerian... Posted by Aisha| 14.02.2007 15:39

ISL  Villager

# 3 Sounds like someone needs an attitude adjustment...............intentionally causing a "Furore" just to an ass or ignoring a customs officer and then bitching about it when you get delayed because of it won't get you any sympathy from me. I understand the writer's frustration as a result of years of being subjected to this kind of treatment, but being defiant only makes it worse IMO. I had a similar incident coming to the states last month but you know what I did? I noted the officers name who harrassed me, and the next week I wrote a 2 page letter to Customs reporting the incident in great detail. Posted by ISL| 14.02.2007 17:14

Loverbwoy  JJC

# 4 =ISL;155377>I had a similar incident coming to the states last month but you know what I did? I noted the officers name who harrassed me, and the next week I wrote a 2 page letter to Customs reporting the incident in great detail. you wrote your letter to the same people, what do you think they'll do about it, did you find out did they write you back? It's really tiring having to experience these sort of harrasment every other time Posted by Loverbwoy| 14.02.2007 20:10

Oguguo Yakere  Villager

# 5 Hakeem, Your article should be helpful to others. IMHO you did very well in all the cases you reported, after all you are human. Only an oppressor like those officers will blame you for what should be rightly perceived as gentility on your part. It hurts when you are singled out based on your race or nationality. Nice article. Yakere Posted by Oguguo Yakere| 14.02.2007 20:15

Dr. S Adetunji  Villager

# 6 ''Although it pains each time they punish me for the crimes they usually claim are being committed by fellow Nigerians, or being discriminated against because of my race, I take a little surreptitious pleasure in the fact that I and others like me have shown that not all Nigerians are criminals. And that to tell you the truth is my consolation for the immigration torture''. Is this race-based or country (Nigeria)-based profiling? I guess the later is the case. Otherwise why are other Africans of non-Nigerian origin not being so profiled? Nigerians who are crooked need to change their crooked ways. Until then, there is no end in sight for the humiliation, even from Hungary and wait for this, Mongolia and Tanzania (of all places) Posted by Dr. S Adetunji| 15.02.2007 05:44

salstep  Villager

# 7 This is normal these days at airport. I have even had my nigeria passport seized and destroyed at heathrow airport. Its all to do with country profiling. Posted by salstep| 15.02.2007 07:45

Abuguy  JJC

# 8 Man broda,you really got special treatment for being a Nigerian.I have had similar experiences in Dubai,Karachi and recently Tunisia airports,not to talk of the Europeans airports and trains.Sometimes one gets so upset,you can't remain quiet but have to give as good as you get-this may help or worsen the "torture".I also appeal to my fellow Nigerians to stop these illegal businesses that have made us "torture" victims at the hands of immigration and custom officals all over the world!!ABEG:mad: Posted by Abuguy| 19.02.2007 06:50

PAULO  JJC

# 9 ''Although it pains each time they punish me for the crimes they usually claim are being committed by fellow Nigerians, or being discriminated against because of my race, I take a little surreptitious pleasure in the fact that I and others like me have shown that not all Nigerians are criminals. And that to tell you the truth is my consolation for the immigration torture''. I think it is high time our so called leaders live up to their responsibility and the expectation of the electorates. Excluded from this treatment based on thier VIP and diplomatic statures, they feel unconcerned by the plight of ordinary, honest Nigerians like us who have to endure this indignity. No wonder many Nigerians in diaspora are quick to accept the citizenship of their country of abode to escape such inhuman treatments. Which international law says that you are automatically a crimininal based on your country of origin. I have had my own share of this treatment and at every point it happens, what comes to my mind is that I am enduring this treatment because of the so called leaders of our nations who had mortgaged our future to ensure their own comfort and that of their family. In 2004 I was harrased by the South African immigration at the Johannesburg airport on my way to U.S. based on a visa that was issued to me by their high commission in another neighbouring country. And since I was merely on transit through the country, I took my time to educate them that not all Nigerians are criminals and drug pushers. Will it kill all this so called leaders to use their so called diplomatic influence to ensure that Nigerians are not stereotyped at every point of entry around the world? It will be a welcome change if every individual is treated on his or her merit instead of being victimised purely based on nthe passport of the country one is carrying. As much as I don't support those 419 conmen and drug peddlers who are Nigerians, I will appreciate it if I am seen as a honest Nigerians instead of being isolated for some barbaric treatment simply because of some isolated incidents that have nothing to do with me. The fact is that 419 thrives outside the country because there are equally so many thieves in the western world who are parading themselves as honest business men. If that is not the case, how can a honesst individual be told to pay some money up front for 500% returns on a job he did not do and he will not be suspicious? Given that Nigerians are corrupt and criminally minded, the western world equally needs to call to order their thieves in business suits always looking for a way to make some quick cash. Posted by PAULO| 21.02.2007 18:48