The United States (US) has confirmed plans to deport 355 people from West African countries as part of a broader immigration enforcement operation.
The decision was announced by the United States Department of Homeland Security, which also released the names and photographs of those affected under its West Africa Operations Watch (WOW) programme.
Nigeria has the highest number of citizens on the deportation list, with 110 people affected.
Liberia follows with 94 citizens, while Ghana has 30. Other countries on the list include Senegal with 19, Cameroon with 15, Ivory Coast with 14, Gambia with 14, Mauritania with 12, Cape Verde with 11, Burkina Faso with 9, Niger with 8, Togo with 6, Guinea with 6, Mali with 5, and Benin and Guinea-Bissau with one person each.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the action is part of ongoing efforts to enforce immigration laws and target individuals residing in the United States without legal authorisation.
The agency stated that many of those listed either overstayed their visas or entered the country without the required immigration documents.
Among the names released by US authorities are Alexander Vorjolo and Steve Mulbah from Liberia, Gallimard Kamtchouang and Desmond Fodje Bobga from Cameroon, Franklin Donkoh and Adams Suleman from Ghana, Mariama Kanu and Hassan Jallo from Sierra Leone, Kodjo Kondon and Cesmel Meledje from Ivory Coast, as well as Sana Bayo and Kekuta Jatta from Gambia.
The list also includes two Nigerians, Oluwafemi Osinowo and Atiku Binuyo, among several others scheduled to be returned to their respective countries.
