Eric, an asylum seeker from southern Nigeria, crossed illegally into Quebec last February from the United States after leaving Africa to escape the threat of armed herdsmen.<\/p>\n
He says the herdsmen from the north of the country threaten southern farmers and sometimes murder them.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of killing has been going on,\u201d he told The Canadian Press during a break from French-language classes he is taking in Montreal.<\/p>\n
The 35-year-old didn\u2019t want to use his real name out of fear it could negatively affect his hearing at the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe herdsmen go to the community and they can slaughter as many civilians as they want,\u201d he said. \u201cWe don\u2019t know who is sponsoring them and the government isn\u2019t doing anything about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eric is one of 7,612 people who crossed illegally into the country during the first four months of the year, with 96 per cent of them entering Quebec, primarily through Roxham Road, a paved clearing at the forested border<\/p>\n
In 2017, thousands of Haitians fled the United States for Montreal, but Nigerians make up a large number of would-be refugees crossing into Quebec this year, according to authorities and community organizers.<\/p>\n
The increasing number of asylum-seekers from Nigeria \u2014 who mostly speak English instead of French \u2014 is helping to make immigration a top issue ahead of October\u2019s provincial election.<\/p>\n
Both of the major opposition parties \u2014 the Parti Quebecois and the Coalition Avenir Quebec \u2014 argue the governing Liberals have failed to properly integrate newcomers by, among other things, not ensuring they learn French.<\/p>\n
The Coalition wants to decrease immigration to the province by 10,000 people a year while the PQ has called for a full review of Quebec\u2019s immigration policies.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd they need to travel to the countries where these people are coming from and say that crossing illegally into Canada is not the right formula for immigration.\u201d<\/p>\n
Back at Aleksanian\u2019s centre, Eric, who made the journey to Quebec with his wife and two kids, said he wants to work in Montreal \u2014 as soon as he can speak French.<\/p>\n
He was supposed to have a hearing on June 1 in front of the refugee board but, like most refugee applicants, his case was \u201cpostponed indefinitely,\u201d meaning he could be in Canada for years before he learns his fate.<\/p>\n
Sitting next to him was David \u2014 also not his real name \u2014 a 74-year-old Nigerian who has been waiting eight years to settle his status in Canada and eventually bring his wife and six children to the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn my case I tell them to forget about my age,\u201d said David, who used to be a taxi inspector in Nigeria\u2019s Imo state. \u201cI am still strong, I can still work. I don\u2019t like to be given something. We are studious people and we are hard-working. We like to be on our own.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both men are on government assistance but were visibly uncomfortable admitting it.<\/p>\n
Eric, who comes from Edo state, received a master\u2019s degree in Britain and used to be a banker in Nigeria.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Nigeria country is very hostile,\u201d Eric said, adding that someone who makes it there can make it anywhere. \u201cThat\u2019s the nature of the country. We are very determined.\u201d<\/p>\n
Southern Nigerians are very ambitious, David said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe like to struggle, we like education and to bring up our children to have a better life than we did,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t like to beg.\u201d<\/p>\n
Credit:\u00a0thestar.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Eric, an asylum seeker from southern Nigeria, crossed illegally into Quebec last February from the United States after leaving Africa to escape the threat of armed herdsmen. He says the herdsmen from the north of the country threaten southern farmers and sometimes murder them. \u201cA lot of killing has been going on,\u201d he told The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9783,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","tags":[],"news-category":[323,322],"yoast_head":"\n