The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has strongly condemned the detention of six Nigerian tourists by immigration authorities in Cape Verde, calling for their immediate release and safe return.
In a statement posted on its official X handle on Wednesday, NiDCOM revealed that the tourists, who had traveled from Senegal to Cape Verde for leisure, were stopped on arrival, accused of insufficient financial proof, and had their mobile phones confiscated.
“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, they were pulled out of the immigration 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 statement read.
Identified as David James Udoh, Lily Dada, Oghenero Adaware, Sherifat Abimbola Ogundairo, and Jesutomi Aina — along with a representative from Ìrìn Travels — the group remains in custody at the facility. According to the commission, distress signals from the detention centre indicate worsening conditions, including a medical concern involving one of the tourists who reportedly lacks access to essential medication.
