Thirty-six Nigerians have been deported from four European countries in a joint operation that saw 41 people flown to Nigeria and Ghana.

According to Austrian news outlet, Heute.at, three Nigerians were deported from Austria, 29 from Germany, two from Luxembourg and one from Hungary. The deportees were flown on a charter flight between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, with Lagos, Nigeria, and Accra, Ghana, listed as the destinations.

Diaspora Tales learnt that Germany organised the joint deportation operation, which was supported by Austria, Luxembourg and Hungary.

According to the report, 35 deportees were on board the flight from Germany, comprising 29 Nigerians, five Ghanaians and one Gambian.

One of the three Nigerians deported from Austria had previously been convicted of drug-related offences.

Meanwhile, Austria’s Interior Minister, Gerhard Karner, stressed the government’s determination to sustain its deportation policy against illegal residents and criminal offenders in the country.

“The negative net migration is being continued through a consistent deportation policy. Never before have so many illegal residents and criminal offenders been removed from the country by Austrian authorities as in the first half of this year. We will continue on this necessary path undeterred,” Karner said. (Saturday PUNCH)