Police escorting repatriated immigrants 'subjected to abuse'

Police officers escorting Nigerian illegal immigrants back to their homeland were subjected to abuse on landing in Lagos aboard an Air Malta flight on Tuesday, sources told The Times.

A police sergeant was bitten on his finger by one of the immigrants while other officers were spat at, the sources added.

These police officers formed part of a 40-strong escort with the 19 illegal immigrants from Malta.

The police were also attacked by a group of immigrants as they disembarked. The group of 19 immigrants repatriated included a female. Some were about to complete their 18 months in detention while others had completed the detention period.

They were repatriated after their application and appeal for refugee status were refused.

On the same aircraft were a group of 20 Nigerian illegal immigrants who were repatriated from Italy, escorted by some 40 Italian policemen.

Air Malta won the tender issued by the EU to ferry the immigrants. The immigrants were returned to Nigeria through EU funding.