A Nigerian man recently deported from the United States has accused Ghanaian immigration officials of forcibly transporting him and five others into Togo before abandoning them there without proper documentation.

Speaking to the BBC, the man, who requested anonymity, claimed that Ghanaian authorities deceived the group by telling them they would be moved from a military camp to “better accommodation.” Instead, he said they were driven through a back route, handed over after local police were allegedly bribed, and left stranded in Togo without formal notification to Togolese authorities.

“They did not take us through the main border; they took us through the back door. They paid the police there and dropped us in Togo,” the man said.

Four of the deportees — including three Nigerians and a Liberian — are now staying in a hotel in Lomé, the Togolese capital, relying on relatives abroad to send financial assistance, as they have no travel documents and no family ties in Togo.

The man described the conditions at the Ghanaian military camp as “deplorable,” citing poor healthcare, lack of medication, and unsafe water. He explained that when officials later arrived claiming to transfer them to a hotel, they were instead taken to the border.

“When we arrived, they said we had to sign paperwork so they could take us to a hotel, but we didn’t sign anything. Next thing, we were in Togo,” he recounted.

Beyond the immediate hardship, the man also spoke about the personal toll of his deportation.

“I have a house in the US where my kids live. How am I supposed to pay the mortgage? My kids can’t see me, and it’s just so stressful,” he said.

The deportee, a member of the Yoruba Self-Determination Movement, expressed fear that returning to Nigeria could put him at risk of arrest or torture. He further claimed he had a US court-ordered protection that should have stopped his deportation, though American authorities have not explained why he was still removed.

The man was part of a group of West Africans — including nationals from Nigeria, Togo, Liberia, and The Gambia — deported from US detention facilities to Ghana last month. Lawyers representing them have since filed lawsuits against both the US and Ghanaian governments, alleging rights violations.

Responding to the backlash, Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, insisted the country accepted the deportees out of “pan-African empathy” and denied any financial incentive. The deportation arrangement, announced by President John Mahama, has already sparked political controversy, with opposition MPs urging the government to suspend the deal until parliament ratifies it.

Despite the criticism, Ghana is reportedly preparing to accept another 40 deportees in the coming weeks.