The Federal Government has successfully secured the release of six Nigerian women who were detained in Cape Verde on false allegations of trafficking.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the women have been released and have departed Cape Verde.
Contrary to earlier reports that the tourists were held for entering the country without sufficient funds, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that they were wrongly accused of trafficking, an allegation that was later found to be false.
On Wednesday, a press statement signed by the Ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, disclosed that the Nigerian Mission in Guinea Bissau engaged Cape Verdean authorities to facilitate the release of the women.
According to the ministry’s spokesperson, the women had travelled to Cape Verde for a holiday when they were unjustly detained.
Part of the statement reads, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to happily inform you that the Nigerian nationals (ladies) who were detained in Cape Verde have all been released and have left the country, too. The Ministry engaged Cape Verde authorities via our Mission in Guinea Bissau to secure their release. The six ladies travelled to Cape Verde for a holiday and were unfortunately detained on allegations of trafficking, which turned out to be false”.
Prior to their release, the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, had called for their immediate freedom. In a statement issued by NiDCOM’s director of media, publicity, and protocol, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, she urged Cape Verdean authorities to treat the women with dignity and facilitate their prompt return to Nigeria via Dakar.
The statement reads, “The attention of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has been drawn to a case of six Nigerian tourists who travelled from Senegal to Cape Verde Island on a vacation. On arrival at Cape Verde, they were pulled out of the line. They were accused of not having enough funds, and their phones were confiscated. They were subsequently locked up in an immigration deportation camp at the airport.
“Reports from the immigration detention centre indicate that they are going through distress and trauma, with one of them having a medical condition without access to his drugs.
“We appeal to the Immigration authorities in Cape Verde to please treat the tourists with respect and dignity and put them on the next immediate return flight to Dakar for onward connection back to Nigeria.
Following their release, the Ministry expressed its satisfaction with the outcome and reiterated its commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of Nigerian citizens abroad.
