UK Police are investigating the death of a Nigerian national held in Europe’s largest detention centre in greater London.
Oscar Okwurime, who was detained in Harmondsworth removal centre in Heathrow, was allegedly found “lying still in his cell” on Thursday, according to The Independent.
The man, whose age is currently unknown, was scheduled to be deported on a charter flight on Tuesday at the neighbouring Heathrow airport.
Following the news, one detainee told The Guardian: “He was terrified when he received the ticket and was so stressed about it”.
Fellow detainee ‘discovered the man’s body’
On Thursday evening, a fellow detainee reportedly discovered the man’s body, and called workers to his cell.
But unfortunately, the man could not be revived, it was reported.
Mr Furumdi, a Zimbabwean national, told The Independent he “felt sorry for the guy.”
“He kept himself to himself, a really private person. He didn’t talk much at all.
“I don’t think he was happy in here. It’s sad. I felt sorry for the guy.”
On Friday morning, several detainees also due to board the charter flight held a protest over the event, and flew banners made out of bedsheets paying homage to the loss.
Read Also – British African Business Alliance (BABA) Chairman, David Smith, Meets Mahmood Ahmadu
The cause of Mr Okwurime’s death is not currently known.
A Home Office spokesperson called Mr Okwurime’s death a “tragic event,” stating “the welfare of all those in our care is of the utmost importance”.
The spokesperson said: “Any death in detention is a tragic event and our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of Mr Okwurime. The welfare of all those in our care is of the utmost importance. All deaths in immigration detention are subject to investigation by the police, the coroner and the independent prisons and probation ombudsman.”
The ‘prison-like’ conditions of Harmondsworth
The last report looking into the treatment of Harmondsworth immigration removal centre declared detention times “excessively long” and said those incarcerated were kept in “prison-like” conditions.
The 106-page findings compiled by Peter Clarke, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons found torture victims were being held by the Home Office in the West Drayton facility.
The Chief Inspector of Prisons stated: “The centre’s task in caring for detainees was not made any easier by the profile of those who were held. There was a very high level of mental health need and nearly a third of the population was considered by the Home Office to be vulnerable under its at risk in detention policy.
“The continuing lack of a time limit on detention meant that some men had been held for excessively long periods: 23 men had been detained for over a year and one man had been held for over 4.5 years, which was unacceptable.”
Source – https://inews.co.uk
