Nigerian dies on deportation flight from Spain

Madrid (Reuters) Mon 11 Jun 2007, 8:10 GMT
africa.reuters.com/top/news/usnBAN133033.html

- A Nigerian illegal immigrant died while being deported from Spain
with a restraining gag over his mouth, Spanish media reported on
Monday.

The Iberia jet flying 97 passengers to Nigeria had to turn back to
Spain and land in Alicante on Saturday after crew discovered that
Osamuyia Aikpitanhi, 23, had died, newspaper El Pais said.

Police union sources told El Pais Aikpitanhi may have died after
swallowing a gag taped over his mouth to prevent him biting
extradition officers.

Spain, which received more immigrants than any other European country
in 2006, has stepped up deportations and entry refusals to 23,000 so
far this year.

The 23-year-old Aikpitanhi, who was being deported with three other
Nigerians, was wanted in his home country for rape and murder and had
a string of violence charges in Spain.

His family believe police punched and kicked him, the paper reported.