Cape Verde frees six detained Nigerian tourists after NiDCOM intervention

Six Nigerian tourists who were detained in Cape Verde have been released and are now in the care of the Nigerian Embassy in Senegal, following intervention by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).

The tourists — David James Udoh, Lily Dada, Oghenero Adaware, Sherifat Abimbola Ogundairo, and Jesutomi Aina — had travelled from Senegal to Cape Verde for a vacation, along with a representative of the Nigerian travel company Ìrìn Travels.

Upon arrival, Cape Verdean immigration officials reportedly pulled them aside, accused them of not having sufficient funds, confiscated their mobile phones, and detained them at an immigration deportation facility at the airport.

NiDCOM raised concerns over the treatment of the tourists, revealing that they were in distress and that one of them was managing a medical condition without access to necessary medication.

In a statement issued earlier this week by NiDCOM’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the commission appealed to Cape Verdean authorities to release the tourists and ensure they were treated with dignity. It also called for their immediate return to Dakar, Senegal, for onward connection to Nigeria.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was also alerted to the situation through its Consular and Migration Directorate for further diplomatic engagement.

On Wednesday, confirmation of their release was shared by X (formerly Twitter) user @tobiojenike, who had originally raised the alarm. “Final update: They are free! They’ve passed through the Dakar border and are now in the care of the Nigerian embassy in Senegal,” the post read.

The tourists, aged between 25 and 31, have now been safely relocated, bringing relief to their families and highlighting the importance of swift diplomatic action in protecting Nigerians abroad.