The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has demanded the immediate release of six Nigerian tourists detained by the Cape Verde immigration authorities.
The agency, through a statement shared via its X (formerly Twitter) page, raised concerns over their detention, allegedly over insufficient funds.
The tourists including David Udoh, Lily Dada, Oghenero Adaware, Sherifat Abimbola Ogundairo, and Jesutomi Aina, alongside a representative from the travel agency Ìrìn Travels, were held in the facility.
The statement read partly: “The attention of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has been drawn to a case involving six Nigerian tourists who travelled from Senegal to Cape Verde Island on vacation.
“Upon arrival in Cape Verde, they were pulled out of the queue, accused of not having enough funds, and had their phones confiscated.
They were subsequently detained at an immigration deportation camp at the airport,”
The agency noted that reports from the detention centre indicate the group is currently in distress, with one member reportedly suffering from a medical condition and lacking access to medication.
The commission called on Cape Verdean immigration authorities to handle the matter with “respect and dignity” and to “put them on the next immediate return flight to Dakar for onward connection back to Nigeria.”
The families of the tourists, who are aged 25 to 31, are said to be deeply concerned about their safety and well-being.
The case has been reported to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular and Migration Directorate, which is expected to engage with the Cape Verdean authorities regarding this matter.
