The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has expressed strong concern over the detention of six Nigerian tourists by immigration authorities in Cape Verde. These tourists were travelling from Senegal to Cape Verde for a vacation when they were reportedly stopped on arrival and accused of not having enough money to sustain their stay.
According to an official statement released by the commission on its X platform, the group of tourists was immediately pulled aside upon landing and placed in detention. Their phones were seized by officials, leaving them with no means of communication. The tourists were named as David James Udoh, Lily Dada, Oghenero Adaware, Sherifat Abimbola Ogundairo, and Jesutomi Aina. A representative from the travel agency Ìrìn Travels was said to have accompanied them.
The commission noted that one of the detained individuals is battling a medical condition and has been left without access to essential medication since the incident occurred.
In light of the situation, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has appealed to Cape Verdean authorities to treat the tourists with dignity and respect. It has also urged them to arrange an immediate return flight to Dakar, Senegal, so the individuals can continue their journey back to Nigeria without further distress.
NiDCOM emphasized that the treatment of the tourists raises human rights concerns and must be addressed swiftly to prevent further harm.
