Six Nigerian tourists detained by Cape Verde immigration authorities are at the center of a diplomatic push for their release after they were accused of traveling with inadequate funds.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), headed by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, is calling for their immediate release and safe return.
The travelers, who had arrived from Senegal for a vacation, were reportedly intercepted at the Cape Verde airport shortly after arrival. Instead of being allowed entry, they were pulled aside, accused of not carrying enough money, had their phones confiscated, and were detained in an immigration facility set aside for deportees.
NiDCOM identified the individuals as David James Udoh, Lily Dada, Oghenero Adaware, Sherifat Abimbola Ogundairo, and Jesutomi Aina. The travel companies responsible for their trip were named as Irin Travels and Far Away. The agency said one of the detained Nigerians has a medical condition and currently does not have access to their medication.
The Commission stated that the travelers are facing physical and psychological distress, noting that their families—especially given their ages, between 25 and 31—are growing increasingly anxious about their well-being.
In response to the incident, NiDCOM has reached out to the Consular and Migration Directorate at Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to handle the matter diplomatically. The commission is appealing to the Cape Verdean authorities to treat the tourists with dignity and return them promptly to Senegal so they can continue their journey back home.
NiDCOM emphasized that these young Nigerians were merely on a leisure trip and should not be subjected to detention over unclear immigration procedures or assumptions about their financial status. The agency has reiterated its demand that the group be released immediately and allowed to return home safely.