A Nigerian woman has shared a deeply emotional account of being denied entry to Canada while in transit, forcing her to return to Nigeria. The incident, which she documented on TikTok, has sparked widespread reactions.
What Happened During the Transit Stop
The traveler, who goes by the handle @nm_es_o_ma on TikTok, initially planned to document her journey to Canada as a light-hearted vlog. However, the trip took a devastating turn when she landed at an airport in Doha, Qatar. There, immigration officials pulled her aside for a lengthy interrogation.
According to the lady, officials asked her a series of questions about her finances, luggage, and employment. She recounted: “They started asking questions about how much cash we have. How many luggage we have. What I do for a living. It was so freaking crazy, and at the end of the day they told me 'Oh, you cannot go at this time. You have to go back to your country.' Jesus Christ.”
The Financial and Emotional Toll
The forced return meant she had to pay out of pocket for a return flight and an unexpected hotel stay in Doha, costs she had not planned for. In the video, she expressed deep confusion and frustration over the process. In the comments, she confirmed that Canada was her intended destination.
The video ends with her sitting aboard a plane, visibly drained. She said: “I cannot even believe that I came back to Nigeria. Ever since I came back, nothing is even funny to me anymore.” In her caption, she wrote: “First in my lineage to get sent back… (actually just sent back to Nigeria ?, but it felt like I was being deported).”
Reactions from Social Media Users
The video garnered numerous reactions on TikTok. User Travel Errand Girl commented: “So sorry about that, I spoke about this in my last video, avoid layovers as much as possible. ?” Ziyanda Mabaso said: “Omg?, having a Nigerian passport is starting to sound so horrific. So sorry for your experience. ??❤️” Tech Lifestyle added: “I can relate like madddddd. I was travelling to Copenhagen when mine happened.”
Broader Context: Nigerian Deportations
This incident comes amid reports of increased deportations of Nigerians from abroad. Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) listed 28 Nigerian Yahoo boys for deportation on its “Worst of the Worst” portal, publishing their names, photographs, and convictions for cybercrime, business email compromise, wire fraud, and benefits fraud.
