Six Nigerian tourists, including David James Udoh, Lily Dada, Oghenero Adaware, Sherifat Abimbola Ogundairo, Jesutomi Aina, and a representative of Ìrìn Travels, have regained their freedom after days of distressing detention by Cape Verdean immigration authorities at Sal International Airport. The group, all aged between 25 and 31, had travelled from Senegal to Cape Verde for a holiday but were abruptly stopped on arrival, accused of lacking sufficient funds, and had their phones confiscated before being moved to an immigration deportation camp.
Initial reports alleged that the tourists were not only denied access to legal representation but also subjected to mistreatment, with one member reportedly battling a medical condition without access to necessary medication. The situation sparked outrage on social media and prompted urgent intervention from the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), led by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who condemned the profiling and procedural irregularities, and demanded that the Cape Verdean authorities treat the group with dignity and arrange their immediate return to Dakar for onward travel to Nigeria.
The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Consular and Migration Directorate also stepped in, escalating diplomatic efforts to secure the release of the detained citizens. Families of the tourists, deeply anxious about their safety and well-being, welcomed the news of their release, which came after mounting pressure and widespread calls for justice from both Nigerian and international quarters.
The incident has reignited concerns about the treatment of Nigerian travellers abroad and the need for stronger diplomatic protection for citizens facing undue hardship or rights violations in foreign countries.
