Nigerian Commission Demands Immediate Release of Tourists Detained in Cape Verde
The Nigerian@s Commission in the Diaspora (NiDCOM) is demanding the immediate release of six young Nigerians arrested in Cape Verde during a vacation trip. They have been accused of not having sufficient financial resources and are being held in a deportation center. The case has already been taken to the Nigerian government for urgent intervention.
Final update: "They are free! They have already passed through the Dakar border and are now under the care of the Nigerian embassy in Senegal," announced an X user, @tobiojenike, who had raised the case earlier, in a post on Wednesday.
ABUJA, Nigeria - The Nigerian@s in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has made an urgent appeal for the release and safe return of six Nigerian tourists who are currently detained by immigration authorities in Cape Verde.
The request was made by the Commission's president, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, through a note signed by the Director of NiDCOM's Communications, Public Relations and Protocol Unit, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the group - made up of young Nigerians aged between 25 and 31 - had traveled from Senegal to Cape Verde on vacation, but were detained as soon as they landed at the airport. The authorities claimed that the tourists did not have sufficient funds, confiscated their phones and took them to an immigration deportation center.
NiDCOM expressed deep concern about the situation of the detainees, stating that they face great distress and trauma. One of the tourists suffers from a health problem and is reportedly without access to the necessary medication.
"We call on the Cape Verdean immigration authorities to treat the tourists with respect and dignity, and to board them on the next immediate flight back to Dakar, for onward connection back to Nigeria," said the Commission.
The Nigerians affected were identified as David James Udoh, Lily Dada, Oghenero Adaware, Sherifat Abimbola Ogundairo and Jesutomi Aina. The trip was organized by the Irin Travels agency, associated with the @irintravels and @theFARAWAY_ profiles.
The case has already been referred to the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and reported to the Consular and Migration Directorate for urgent intervention.
Families of the detained tourists are extremely concerned for the safety and well-being of their loved ones.
