Ireland’s immigration authorities have confirmed the deportation of 35 Nigerian nationals, among them nine women and five children, in a large-scale operation carried out on Wednesday, June 4, 2025.
According to a release from the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), the children deported were all members of family units.
The group was removed via a special charter flight that departed from Dublin Airport and landed safely in Nigeria the following morning.
This marks the first deportation charter flight to Africa in 2025 and the third such flight conducted by Ireland since introducing the initiative in February.
The operation is part of the country’s renewed efforts to enforce immigration regulations more strictly.
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan emphasized the importance of maintaining a rules-based immigration structure.
“The system must be fair and firm. When asylum or immigration requests are denied, deportation orders must be carried out,” he said.
O’Callaghan further stated that such operations reinforce the government’s commitment to upholding immigration laws and deterring unlawful stay in the country.
The flight had to make an emergency stop due to a medical situation, but all deportees eventually arrived safely in Nigeria.