The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Nigeria has revealed that over 1,000 Nigerians are stranded in the United Kingdom after receiving fake employment letters.
Vanguard newspaper reported that IOM Chief of Mission in Nigeria, Laurent De Boeck, disclosed this in Abuja on Monday. He urged potential migrants to be wary of a syndicate specializing in providing fake employment letters to Nigerians seeking work in the UK.
Mr. De Boeck explained that upon presenting the falsified letters to the supposed employers in the UK, the victims are informed that the documents are invalid. “Some individuals have lost over $10,000 on these fake letters, which enabled them to get visas,” he said. “They arrive in the UK, present the letters, and are told they did not originate from the companies. Over a thousand people are affected.”
Many of these individuals are unable to return home due to financial constraints or feelings of shame, Mr. De Boeck added.
The IOM also announced ongoing efforts with partners to repatriate thousands of individuals, including Nigerians, from Tunisia, which recently implemented a migration ban. Additionally, the agency is collaborating extensively with Italy to establish regular migration pathways for qualified Nigerians.
Mr. De Boeck encouraged Nigerians to seek proper information before embarking on any migration journey, highlighting that over 260,000 Nigerians sought guidance from the IOM in 2023 on regular or approved migration routes.
