…Stranded Bayelsa indigene faces forced exit, no money to return home
Daud Olatunji
A young Nigerian, Emmanuel Walter from Bayelsa State, has become one of the most visible faces of distress among Africans stranded in Cambodia following a government directive ordering all affected foreign nationals to leave the country by June 15, 2026.
Walter, who is currently stuck in deteriorating conditions in the Southeast Asian nation, is pleading for urgent assistance to return home after what he and others describe as a failed overseas job arrangement that left him stranded without financial support or safety net.
His case comes as Cambodia’s General Department of Immigration, under the Ministry of Interior, issued a circular mandating all African nationals—including citizens of Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, and Uganda—to exit the country before the deadline.
The directive, signed by Director-General Lt. Gen. Som Sopheak and approved by Gen. Sar Sokha, marks the end of a waiver previously granted to foreign nationals who had regularised their stay or cleared immigration fines.
According to the circular, all affected foreigners must leave Cambodia on or before June 15, with no extension expected from authorities.
Walter’s ordeal
For Emmanuel Walter, the policy has intensified an already desperate situation.
Sources familiar with his condition say the Bayelsa indigene travelled to Cambodia after being promised a legitimate job opportunity that would improve his economic situation. However, upon arrival, he allegedly discovered discrepancies in the nature of the work offered, leaving him trapped in a difficult and uncertain environment.
He is now unable to fund his return journey, with an estimated air ticket cost of over $1,000 (approximately ₦1.5 million), a sum he cannot afford given his present circumstances.
Walter is reportedly willing to return to Nigeria immediately but says he has no access to financial assistance, no employer support, and limited means of survival as the immigration deadline draws closer.
Growing panic among Africans
Walter’s plight mirrors that of thousands of African migrants now facing uncertainty in Cambodia following the government’s renewed enforcement of immigration regulations.
The Cambodian authorities have in recent years intensified crackdowns on illegal foreign labour and suspected cyber-related operations, leading to periodic mass exit orders targeting undocumented or irregular migrants.
Human rights observers note that while the measures are aimed at curbing illegal activities, many vulnerable migrants—often lured by deceptive job offers—end up stranded without resources to return home.
Calls For Urgent Nigerian Intervention
Walter’s family and concerned observers are now appealing to the Federal Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) to urgently intervene and facilitate his repatriation before the June 15 deadline.
They warn that without immediate diplomatic action, he and other Nigerians may face detention, forced deportation, or prolonged hardship in Cambodia’s immigration system.
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