The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has expressed strong concern over the detention of six Nigerian tourists by immigration authorities in Cape Verde.
In a statement released on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, NiDCOM said the group had travelled from Senegal to Cape Verde for a vacation but was detained upon arrival.
The tourists were allegedly accused of not having enough funds and had their mobile phones seized before being taken to an immigration deportation facility at the airport.
According to the commission, the detained individuals include David James Udoh, Lily Dada, Oghenero Adaware, Sherifat Abimbola Ogundairo, Jesutomi Aina, and a representative of the travel agency Ìrìn Travels that organized the trip.
NiDCOM revealed that the group is currently in distress at the detention centre, with one of the tourists reportedly battling a medical condition without access to necessary medication.
The commission urged the Cape Verdean authorities to treat the Nigerians with dignity and immediately arrange their return to Dakar, from where they can reconnect to Nigeria.
It was also reported that the tourists, aged between 25 and 31, have families back home who are deeply worried about their health and safety.
NiDCOM confirmed that the matter has been officially reported to the Consular and Migration Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is expected to take further diplomatic steps with Cape Verde to ensure a swift resolution.
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