The Danish Government has allocated £300,000 (approximately 4.2 million Danish kroner or N635.1 million) for a prosthetic leg for a Nigerian pirate who was shot by the Danish Navy.
The individual, identified as 42-year-old Lucky Frances, sustained severe injuries during a confrontation with the Danish warship Esbern Snare in the Gulf of Guinea in 2021. Reports indicate that four other pirates lost their lives in the encounter, while Frances was brought to Denmark for medical treatment due to bullet wounds in his leg.
Frances was later convicted of endangering lives but avoided prison time and subsequently applied for asylum in Denmark. His application was successful in 2023, and he has been granted a residence permit.
This decision has sparked significant backlash from Danish politicians, who have criticized the country’s immigration policies. Mikkel Bjorn, the integration spokesman for the Danish People’s Party, remarked, “This is absolutely absurd.” He emphasized that Frances should not have been in Denmark and expressed skepticism about his integration prospects.
In addition to his medical care, Frances has been enrolled in a language program and is receiving assistance in finding employment as an amputee, according to local news outlet BT. Reports from DR indicate that Frances’s situation has already cost Danish taxpayers 4.2 million Danish kroner (£300,000).
Initially, Frances expressed a desire to return to Nigeria but later reconsidered, opting to apply for asylum in Denmark instead. He stated, “Going back to Africa will not be good for me. I have thought about my situation. I have also spoken to my family about my physical condition, and they support my decision to seek asylum, even if my daughter is not entirely satisfied.”
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