FULL LIST: US releases 124 Nigerians’ names on deportation list for crimes

The United States has identified 124 Nigerians for deportation after placing them on what it described as its list of the country’s “worst of the worst” criminal offenders, marking the latest escalation in President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement campaign.

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The names and photographs of the Nigerians were published on Wednesday by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which said the individuals had been arrested by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and were facing removal from the country.

While the department made the list public, it did not disclose when the deportations would begin or provide details of the criminal convictions linked to each individual.

“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of worst criminal aliens arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement,” the agency said in a statement.

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It added: “Under DHS leadership, the hardworking men and women of DHS and ICE are fulfilling President Trump’s promise and carrying out mass deportations, starting with the worst of the worst.”

The list includes dozens of Nigerians with names drawn from across the country’s ethnic groups: “Sunday Adediora, Sunday Kunkushi, Mkpouto Etukudoh, Marcus Unigwe, Olaniyi Ojikutu, Boluwaji Akingunsoye, Ejike Asiegbunam, Emmanuel Mayegun Adeola, Bamidele Bolatiwa, Ifeanyi Nwaozomudoh, Aderemi Akefe, Solomon Wilfred, Chibundu Anuebunwa, Joshua Ineh, Usman Momoh, Oluwole Odunowo, Bolarinwa Salau, Oriyomi Aloba.”

Others are Oludayo Adeagbo, Olaniyi Akintuyi, Talatu Dada, Olatunde Oladinni, Jelili Qudus, Abayomi Daramola, Toluwani Adebakin, Olamide Jolayemi, Isaiah Okere, Benji Macaulay, Joseph Ogbara, Olusegun Martins, Kingsley Ariegwe, Olugbenga Abass, Oyewole Balogun, Adeyinka Ademokunla, Christian Ogunghide, Christopher Ojuma, Olamide Adedipe, Patrick Onogwu, Olajide Olateru-Olagbegi and Omotayo Akinto.

“Kenneth Unanka, Jeremiah Ehis, Oluwafemi Orimolade, Ayibatonye Bienzigha, Uche Diuno, Akinwale Adaramaja, Boluwatife Afolabi, Chinonso Ochie, Olayinka A. Jones, Theophilus Anwana, Aishatu Umaru, Henry Idiagbonya, Okechukwu Okoronkwo, Daro Kosin, Sakiru Ambali, Kamaludeen Giwa, Cyril Odogwu, Ifeanyi Echigeme, Kingsley Ibhadore, Suraj Tairu, Peter Equere, Dasola Abdulraheem, Adewale Aladekoba and Akeem Adeleke.

“Bernard Ogie Oretekor, Abiemwense Obanor, Olufemi Olufisayo Olutiola, Chukwuemeka Okorie, Abimbola Esan, Elizabeth Miller, Chima Orji, Adetunji Olofinlade, Abdul Akinsanya, Elizabeth Adeshewo, Dennis Ofuoma, Quazeem Adeyinka, Ifeanyi Okoro, Oluwaseun Kassim, Olumide Bankole Morakinyo, Abraham Ola Osoko, Oluchi Jennifer and Chibuzo Nwaonu.”

The announcement forms part of a broader immigration strategy introduced after Trump returned to the White House on January 20, 2025.

On his first day back in office, Trump signed a series of executive orders declaring illegal immigration a national emergency, directing federal agencies to strengthen border enforcement and accelerate the removal of undocumented migrants.

One executive order, titled Protecting the American People Against Invasion, instructed immigration authorities to prioritise the arrest and deportation of migrants who are considered threats to public safety or national security.

The DHS said the administration was delivering on Trump’s campaign promise to carry out large-scale deportations, beginning with people convicted of serious crimes.

Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary, has defended the policy, saying the administration remains committed to enforcing immigration laws and removing undocumented migrants with criminal records.

Official US immigration figures show that Guatemala has recorded the largest number of deportees since the renewed crackdown began, followed by Honduras, Mexico and El Salvador. In recent months, the United States has also expanded deportation flights to countries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean as enforcement operations continue.

Nigeria has increasingly come under the attention of the Trump administration.
In June, Washington imposed partial visa restrictions on Nigerian citizens, citing concerns over identity management, information sharing, visa overstay rates and security screening.

The latest deportation list is likely to heighten concerns over US-Nigeria relations as immigration enforcement becomes a central pillar of the Trump administration’s foreign and domestic policy agenda. While the US says the targeted individuals have been convicted of serious offences, it has not released information about the specific crimes or the timetable for their removal.