WATCH THE VIDEO HERE THE Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has appealed to Cape Verdean authorities for the immediate release and safe return of six Nigerian tourists currently held by immigration officials in the country. In a statement issued today by the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, NiDCOM Chairperson Abike Dabiri-Erewa emphasized the urgency of the matter. According to the Commission, the tourists—young Nigerians aged 25 to 31—had traveled from Senegal to Cape Verde for a vacation but were detained at the airport. Authorities allegedly accused them of not having sufficient funds, confiscated their phones, and transferred them to an immigration deportation facility. NiDCOM raised concerns about the physical and emotional state of the detainees, noting that one of them has a medical condition and has been denied access to necessary medication. “We urge Cape Verde’s immigration authorities to treat these individuals with dignity and place them on the next available flight to Dakar for their return to Nigeria,” the statement read. The detained individuals have been identified as David James Udoh, Lily Dada, Oghenero Adaware, Sherifat Abimbola Ogundairo, and Jesutomi Aina. Their trip was reportedly organized by Irin Travels, known by the social media handles @irintravels and @theFARAWAY_. NiDCOM has escalated the issue to Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and reported it to the Consular and Migration Directorate for swift action. Families of the detained travellers remain anxious about their welfare and safety.
NiDCOM urges Cape Verde to release six detained Nigerian tourists
