Nigerian Asylum seeker attempts Suicide in the UK

A 23-year-old Nigerian asylum seeker made a suicide attempt in an Essex hotel car park after learning he was due to be transferred to the Bibby Stockholm barge, according to a report in The Guardian on Sunday, October 29, 2023.

The Bibby Stockholm, an engineless barge, had recently been designated for housing asylum seekers by the UK government.

The Nigerian national, who was told he would be moved to the barge, was airlifted to a hospital on Thursday, October 26, 2023, and placed on life support.

He had returned to his hotel, used by the Home Office to accommodate asylum seekers, and saw his hotel room number on a whiteboard in the reception, indicating his transfer to the barge on Tuesday, October 31.

Upon discovering that he was on the list, the man attempted to take his own life.

He was discovered alive but in critical condition by another asylum seeker who heard him in distress. An air ambulance transported him to Colchester General Hospital, where he remains in serious condition.

Previously, asylum seekers placed on the barge in August had raised concerns about the conditions onboard, which had reportedly driven one person to attempt suicide. The barge was evacuated due to the discovery of Legionella bacteria.

A small group of asylum seekers returned to the Bibby Stockholm on October 19, despite protests from local campaigners and the Just Stop Oil movement.

The Nigerian man had arrived in the UK as an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child and had lived in foster care until reaching the age of 18. Refugee, Asylum Seeker and Migrant Action (Rama) is providing support to the man and others in the hotel and at various accommodation sites in Essex.

Tragically, The Guardian has confirmed two other recent deaths of asylum seekers in hotels, both believed to be suicides.