Isiaka nafiu faith

Thank you to those that genuinely made efforts to secure our timely return from South Africa and to those that prayed and hoped for our safe return as well. A lot of narratives are being peddled and I feel let down and disappointed that Nigerian Authorities joined in supporting these convenient false narratives and wrongful profiling. The events that transpired are not an isolated occurence and this experience is not new hence I’m surprised that myself and other Nigerians are now being scapegoated without even given the benefit of doubt by people and organisations meant to protect Nigerian citizens abroad. Let me state clearly that no Nigerian official reached out privately or publicly to any of us to even ask for our side of the story or for us to explain our experiences YET tweets and official statements were made. I understand the need to keep things diplomatic but it was a disservice not even hearing our detailed ordeal before assessing the facts and then making a statement. Basically Nigerian authorities heard one side of the story, profiled us and particularly me based on looks and probably social status and made conclusions that South Africans are now capitalising on. I have no power or anything to fight you or counter your position but I know what I went through and what I was subjected to. Regardless thank you for your efforts but next time try hear both side of the story and get the facts before making public statements @nidcom_gov @abikedabiri Let me make it categorically clear that at no point did any South African immigration official make reference or ask me anything about my social media. Let me also make it categorically clear that the issue was not even about my visa which clearly invalidate the use of agents for the application. Even at that, when did it become an error for one to use agents in making a visa application ?, this is the route most Nigerians use but now it is one of the reasons for our ordeal when that was not even the issue at all. Let’s pretend my social media was the issue and they had me on a watchlist, so why did they grant the visa then?, clearly there was an agenda then and I would be embarrassed as planned and yes they achieved this aim. Someone is on your watchlist YET you gave him visa - make it make sense. Every country has the right to deny entry even with a valid visa and I did not have an issue with this as it is their right. The issue was the harrasment, the inhuman treatment that the immigration lady held her stapler and wanted to throw it at me, the harsh words which were extended to Nigerians as well but I’m the issue, all is well. My compatriot Jamal @odesanmijamal_ who travelled a day ahead of me was held for over a day with his phones seized and when we arrived at their mini detention space as well and saw him, I feared for myself as he was clearly mistreated and they chased him away when he tried to come to us to use our phone to communicate as they had seized his phone the day before and only returned it when they asked him to call someone in South Africa to send money for his feeding and an hour before they placed him on a flight back home more than 24 hours after. He got there 6am Saturday but his phone came back fully to him around 3pm on Sunday but you want me to keep calm and not be alarmed ?. I hope everyone knows that lack of information and appropriate communication from immigration authorities in such ordeal would make one feel agitated and unsafe coupled with direct insults on my person and nationality which was extended to 3 other Nigerians right beside me. Walk in my shoes before you judge me. The Airbnb excuse was shocking and irrelevant as I had a valid Airbnb booking with the contact details on it which was not even requested nor did they make attempt to contact or clarify such reservation. @Morris_Monye @Wizarab10 @instablog9ja @gameintel9ja @abikedabiri @47kasz @pbtips_ @mrmacaroni 1.

2. Funny enough in panic I even paid for an hotel right there and there and attempted to show that to the immigration lady, she ignored it. I had enough funds to cover myself for the trip and had the capacity to book, pay for an hotel if Airbnb was the excuse and yet it was refuted as they did not even give me audience at all. I got more insult and physical shunning from the officials and they did not even really ask questions, nor make any attempt to verify anything. It was clear everything was going to be on deaf ears and the ultimate aim was to return us. Our phones was taken from us only to be returned because they wanted us to make a payment of 2600 Rands for the detention we didn’t ask to be put in the first place whilst rebuffing all attempt to book the next available flight out of Johannesburg back to Lagos. I did later found out we weren’t even meant to pay up to that but somehow they added their own extra fees which I did later pay but it wasn’t anything near the initial 2600 Rands they requested back in Johannesburg. I know this lengthy explanation changes nothing especially as the Nigerian authority has already taken a side without listening to our side and I’m clearly a nobody with fearful looks who has been wrongfully profiled, harassed and humiliated. But this is my story and I would not forgive myself for keeping quiet and refusing to state my truth. I have learnt from this experience and once again thank you to everyone. @yabaleftonline @dammiedammie35

@odesanmijamal_ Jamal no raise this matter again today