Nigerian migrant rights activist Olukunle Adetunji is facing deportation from Canada over his immigration status after years of trying to legalise his stay in the country.
According to Canadian media outlet CityNews, Adetunji first arrived in Canada in 2012 but was deported to Nigeria in 2014. He reportedly remained in Nigeria for two years before returning to Canada illegally in 2016.
Adetunji married his wife, Kimora, in 2014, and the couple have three sons. They later explored applying for permission for him to remain in Canada on compassionate grounds.
However, he was arrested and detained at Maplehurst Correctional Complex before being transferred through immigration detention facilities, including the Toronto Immigration Holding Centre. He was later released while attempting to regularise his status, but now faces deportation.
Speaking about the possibility of being separated from his children, Adetunji said, “I’ve been taken away from my three boys. I made them promise that I’d never leave them. And, for me to break that promise is…I don’t know, I can’t break that promise.”
He also expressed concern about returning to Nigeria, saying he had no family ties or place to stay there.
“I have no ties with Nigeria. I don’t have a place to stay. It’s like a death sentence,” he said.