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Author: ebony amadi
Posted to the web: 4/23/2008 4:28:31 AM

Why I back call for BA boycott after shameful treatment of Nigerians British Airways has plummeted in my estimation following its shameful treatment of Nigerian passengers who dared to stand up to the inhumane treatment of a fellow Nigerian who begged not to be deported back to his home country.I am proud of the passengers who did not turn a blind eye on board flight BA0075 to Lagos when they witnessed the young man being held down by four or five police officers, especially when you consider how many black men have died in custody on the ground after being restrained in a similar fashion.Anyone with an ounce of humanity would have done the same thing. But when the young man was escorted off the plane, it was so that the officers could exact their revenge for the protest, singling out Mr Ayotedji Omotade, who was accused of being the ring leader. His reward for speaking out in defence of the deportee was to be arrested.Mr Omotade, a respectable IT contractor was forced to suffer the humiliation of having the £1600 he was carrying confiscated. I am sure that racism and negative stereotyping had a lot to do with the police telling Mr Omotade that they suspected the money he was carrying to be the proceeds of crime. How did they come to this conclusion? His treatment by BA and the airport police which involved him being held in custody for 10 hours is totally unacceptable.I am 100 per cent behind the Nigerian boycott against BA and the call for an unreserved apology to Mr Omotade. He should be offered compensation for his treatment and the fact that because of the debacle, he missed his brother’s wedding in Nigeria. Too many airliners are using the ‘threat of terrorism’ as an excuse to target innocent passengers with false arrests and discrimination. Until they clean up their act, I won’t flying with British Airways on when I go abroad.Colourful’s editor Deborah Gabriel is a qualified lecturer, trainer and coach.