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23-Year-Old Nigerian Asylum Seeker In The UK Attempts Su!cide
The UK Guardian reported on Sunday, October 29, 2023, that a 23-year-old Nigerian asylum seeker attempted suicide in an Essex hotel parking lot after learning that he would be transferred to the Bibby Stockholm barge.
Bibby Stockholm is a docked accommodation barge in Portland, Dorset.
It was used for homeless people in Hamburg, Germany, from 1994 and 1998. In 2005, the Netherlands used it to imprison asylum seekers in Rotterdam.
The UK government announced plans to utilise the barge as refugee seeker homes in 2023.
According to the article, the Nigerian national was taken to hospital and placed on life support on Thursday, October 26, 2023, two days after being assured he would be transported.
Refugee Asylum Seeker and Migrant Action (Rama) stated the man returned to his hotel, which the Home Office uses to house asylum seekers, around 6 p.m.
He noticed that his hotel room number had been recorded on a whiteboard in the hotel reception area as one of the numbers scheduled to move to the barge on Tuesday, October 31.
When he discovered he was on the list, he walked outdoors and attempted suicide. An asylum seeker who heard the man in distress discovered him alive but in poor condition.
He was flown by air ambulance to Colchester General Hospital, where he is now in critical condition.
Asylum seekers placed aboard the barge in August warned that conditions onboard the Bibby Stockholm had pushed one individual to try suicide before everyone was removed owing to the finding of Legionella bacteria. On October 19, a small group of asylum seekers returned to the barge despite objections by local activists and Stop Oil.
The Nigerian man arrived in the UK as an unaccompanied asylum seeker youngster and was raised in foster care until the age of 18. Rama is assisting the man and others in the hotel and at other Essex lodging facilities.
The Guardian has confirmed two other recent deaths of asylum seekers at hotels, both of which are believed to be suicides.
According to Rama, eight asylum applicants in the hotel are scheduled to join the barge on Tuesday.
“There are 114 asylum seekers at the hotel, and a very high number of them have wounds from self-harm,” Maria Wilby, Rama’s operational lead, said. Ten of them have gone on hunger strike because the food is so bad. People are shedding considerable amounts of weight,”
“There have also been six occasions in the last year, since the hotel opened in November 2022, when our staff, volunteers and colleagues have had to talk people down from the A12 flyover, from which they planned to jump and take their own lives.” The last time was only two weeks ago.”
The act has apparently caused significant distress among the asylum seekers, personnel, and security guards.
The hotel is set to close soon as part of Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick’s proposal to close an initial 50 hotels by the end of January, as revealed in the House of Commons on October 24.
“The asylum seekers are mourning the fact that the Home Office is closing the hotel,” Wilby remarked. While it isn’t flawless, it has been their home for up to a year. This suicide attempt is the most vigorous conceivable protest against that inhumanity, and it also demonstrates how greatly the Bibby Stockholm is dreaded.”
“This is a horrific incident – a tragedy that was entirely preventable,” said Nicola David of One Life To Live, which advocates against improper lodging for asylum seekers and has raised numerous concerns about the Bibby Stockholm.
“Is there any part of the ‘ stop the boats’ campaign that is working?” The fact that the Bibby Stockholm is proving to be a deterrent.
“However, rather than preventing people from crossing the Channel, asylum seekers already here are choosing to commit suicide rather than being sent to the barge.” It’s undoubtedly a deterrence, albeit a horribly, deeply cruel and disgusting one.
“The health and welfare of asylum seekers remains our top priority,” a representative for the Home Office stated. We strive constantly to identify and address the needs and vulnerabilities of persons living in asylum accommodation, especially those connected to mental health and trauma.
“Residents are provided with ample support to understand any changes in accommodation, including access to staff and mental health support.”
President Tinubu honoured 50 Nigerians on Democracy Day 2026, including Dasuki, Joe Igbokwe and Dele Alake. See the full list and what it means.
On 12 June 2026, President Bola Tinubu conferred national honours on 50 Nigerians described as key figures in the country’s pro-democracy struggle.
The announcement was made during the 2026 Democracy Day address, which commemorates the annulled 12 June 1993 presidential election. Honourees include journalists, civil rights activists, and military officers.
President Bola Tinubu conferred national honours on 50 prominent Nigerians on Friday, 12 June 2026. The honourees were recognised as central participants in the nation’s pro-democracy movement, a campaign that opposed military dictatorship throughout the 1990s.
The announcement formed part of the president’s nationwide 2026 Democracy Day address. Democracy Day marks the anniversary of the 12 June 1993 presidential election, a poll widely regarded as the freest in Nigerian history before its annulment by the military government of the period.
READ ALSO: Why I Refused To Align Any Political Party In Nigeria—Yakubu Gowon
This article outlines the context of the awards, identifies the categories of honourees, names notable recipients such as Sambo Dasuki, Joe Igbokwe, and Oladele Alake, and explains the next steps in the conferment process.
Why did Tinubu confer the national honours on 12 June 2026?
The conferment is tied directly to Democracy Day, an annual observance commemorating the 12 June 1993 presidential election. President Tinubu used the occasion to recognise individuals identified as central figures in Nigeria’s transition from military rule to civilian democracy.
In his address, the president stated that the honourees suffered persecution in the course of the pro-democracy struggle. He noted that many endured indignities, exile, incarceration, and, at times, solitary confinement so that Nigeria could enjoy democratic governance today.
The recognition therefore functions as both a historical acknowledgement and a formal state honour, linking the sacrifices of the 1990s to the present democratic order.
Who are the notable recipients of the national honours?
The honours list comprises several categories of recipients, including journalists, civil rights leaders, legal practitioners, and senior military officers. Among the most widely recognised names are the following:
- Oladele Alake, a long-standing public figure in Nigerian governance and media.
- Joe Igbokwe, a prominent political activist and commentator.
- Colonel Sambo Dasuki, a senior military officer included in the soldier-democrats category.
- Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, a recognised civil rights campaigner.
- Dr Arthur Nwankwo (posthumous), honoured for his role in the democratic struggle.
- Ben Charles-Obi (posthumous), recognised among the journalists and activists.
The inclusion of posthumous awards reflects the state’s intention to acknowledge contributors who did not survive to witness the present democratic dispensation.
What categories of honourees were recognised?
The honours list is organised into two broad groupings. The first comprises journalists, lawyers, academics, and civil rights leaders. The second comprises military officers designated as “soldier-democrats”.
Journalists, lawyers, and civil rights leaders
This grouping recognises individuals who advanced the pro-democracy cause through media, advocacy, and legal channels. Named recipients include:
- Barrister Ayoka Lawani
- Tunde Fagbenle
- Oladele Alake
- Olatunji Bello
- Louis Odion
- Segun Babatope
- Sam Omatseye
- Sir Ademola Osinubi
- Bola Bolawole
- Lade Bonuola
- Femi Kusa
- Debo Adeniran
- Chief Ayo Opadokun
- Chief Ralph Obiora
- Ose Osayande
- Barrister Osa Director
- Professor Sylvester Odion-Akhaine
- Dr Arthur Nwankwo (posthumous)
- Dr Osagie Obayuwana
- Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin
- Barrister Titus Mann
- Joe Igbokwe
- Richard Akinnola
- Ben Charles-Obi (posthumous)
- George Mbah
- Dr Niran Malaolu
- Major-General Ishola Williams (retired)
- Femi Aborisade
- Jenkins Alumona
- Gbemiga Ogunleye
- Muyiwa Adekeye
- Babajide Kolade-Otitoju
- Ike Okonta
Soldier-democrats
This grouping recognises military officers associated with resistance to military dictatorship. Named recipients include:
- Major-General M. A. Garba
- Brigadier-General Lawal Jaafaru Isa
- Colonel Umar Farouk Ahmed
- Colonel Sambo Dasuki
- Colonel Lawan Gwadabe
- Brigadier Jonathan Ndam Temlong
- Colonel Musa Shehu
- Major-General Chris Eze
- Major-General Harris Dzarma
- Colonel Isa Jibrin
- Major-General Joseph Oshanupin
- Colonel Olusegun Oloruntoba, Olugbede of Gbede Kingdom
- Lieutenant-Colonel Happy Kefas Bulus
- Colonel J. Okai
- Colonel Emmanuel Ndubueze
- Lieutenant-Colonel Yakubu Muazu
- Brigadier Yahaya Abubakar, the current Etsu Nupe and existing holder of the CFR title
When will the awards be formally presented?
The president stated that the formal presentation and conferment of the awards will be carried out in the coming days. According to the address, the full honours list will be released within the next few days.
The announcement therefore represents the declaration stage of the process rather than the formal investiture, which is scheduled to follow.
What does this conferment signify for Nigeria?
The 2026 Democracy Day honours connect the historical pro-democracy struggle to contemporary national recognition. By including journalists, activists, lawyers, and military officers, the awards acknowledge a broad spectrum of contributors to Nigeria’s civilian transition.
The presence of posthumous awards further underlines the state’s intention to honour participants across generations, including those who did not live to see the present democratic order.
Frequently asked questions
How many Nigerians received national honours on Democracy Day 2026?
President Bola Tinubu conferred national honours on 50 Nigerians during the 2026 Democracy Day address on 12 June 2026.
Why is 12 June significant in Nigeria?
12 June marks the anniversary of the 1993 presidential election, which was annulled by the military government of the time. The date is now observed as Nigeria’s Democracy Day.
Who are the most notable recipients of the 2026 national honours?
Notable recipients include Oladele Alake, Joe Igbokwe, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, and Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, alongside posthumous honourees such as Dr Arthur Nwankwo and Ben Charles-Obi.
Were any awards conferred posthumously?
Yes. Posthumous honours were conferred on Dr Arthur Nwankwo and Ben Charles-Obi in recognition of their contributions to the pro-democracy struggle.
When will the national honours be formally presented?
President Tinubu stated that the formal presentation and conferment will take place in the coming days, with the full honours list to be released shortly after the announcement.
A short-statured Ghanaian woman has sparked online debate after making contentious remarks regarding her romantic relationship preferences.
During a recent interview with De God Son TV, the diminutive lady expressed her aversion to dating guys of shorter height despite her diminutive Ghanaian woman. She remarked that short men do not match her “specifications” for relationships.
When questioned about her explanation, she stated that she sees shorter men as resembling infants, even though they are adults.
“I have a 7-year-old son, so dating a short man feels like dating my son,” she explained, finding parallels between her personal and romantic lives.
Watch the video below.
Once again, Nigerian singer Davido has made headlines for proving his status as a rich man with two luxury cars entering Nigeria: a Rolls-Royce and a Tesla Cybertruck.
The musician posted a picture of the trip on social media, his pure white Rolls Royce parked on the runway, ready for shipment.
Another photo depicted the Tesla Cybertruck being loaded into an aircraft to verify the truck’s arrival in Nigeria.
Cubana Chief Priest, another close associate and entrepreneur, also saluted the new cars with an Instagram image. He congratulated Davido on his feats, dubbed him the “GOAT,” and hinted at a festive December with new vehicles added to the singer’s collection.
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