Some aspiring Nigerian footballers, who realized they had been scammed upon arriving Russia last year, are currently stranded and may soon be deported. They had all gone to the country during the last World Cup as there was a visa-waiver for everyone who wanted to be part of the continental footballing tournament.
However, a Russia-based anti-slavery NGO has revealed that these set of Nigerians have been stranded ever since.
Police in Russia has equally reported that about 5,500 foreigners who had come into the country through the visa-waiver policy have stayed back, even though the program had expired since last December.
After carrying out their findings of the number of Nigerians involved, the Nigerian Embassy in Moscow has now discovered that over 200 Nigerians are among those that will most likely be deported from the country. This is mostly because their return tickets were canceled because they were invalid.
Meanwhile, over 10 other Nigerians in the southern part of Russia have become stranded after they discovered that the football contract they were offered before leaving Nigeria was a complete scam.
The scammer had given them contracts supposedly from some local football clubs in Russia, claiming that he was an agent. As soon as they got to the country during the world cup tournament, he collected $500 from each of them and fled.
Through its Facebook page, Alternativa explained that “Their fate remains unclear. If they try to file a statement with the police, they will immediately be detained for violating immigration laws. Then what’s in store for them is a court hearing, a fine, a special detention center and deportation.”
The organization’s rep, Yulia Siluyanoya, equally explained that the Nigerian Consulate in Russia has “listened to their appeal but refused to help.”
He said, “Without the consulate’s intervention and sponsorship, I’m afraid there will no other end result than deportation.”
Yulia further stressed that the aspiring footballers are being accommodated and fed by some local who pity their situations.
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