Nigerians living in Algeria are going into hiding as authorities ramp up efforts to remove undocumented immigrants.
This has led to the deportation of 40 Nigerians, including 37 men and three women, who arrived in Abuja on February 4, 2025, at 8:10 p.m. aboard a Turkish Airlines flight.
The recent crackdown has left many Nigerians in Algeria fearing arrest and deportation.
Reports indicate that those affected include individuals from Kano and Katsina states.
The Algerian government has been tightening immigration policies, leading to the forced removal of sub-Saharan migrants, including Nigerians.
Human rights groups have raised concerns over these deportations, pointing to allegations of racial profiling and the harsh conditions deportees face.
Some migrants are reportedly abandoned in remote desert areas near the Niger border without food or water.
Mass deportations are not new in Algeria. In 2017, Amnesty International reported that over 2,000 migrants were expelled within three weeks.
By 2024, estimates suggested that more than 30,000 migrants had been sent from Algeria to Niger, showing a growing trend of forced removals.
The situation has drawn criticism from international organisations, with concerns about the treatment of migrants and the humanitarian impact of these actions.
While the exact number of Nigerians affected remains unclear, many West African migrants, including those from Nigeria, continue to face difficulties as Algeria enforces strict immigration measures.