The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has officially confirmed that the group of Nigerian women recently held by immigration officials in Mauritius has been released. According to the organization, the women are currently traveling to Nairobi.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the NiDCOM Chairperson and CEO, is collaborating with the Nigerian Embassy to address the incident with Mauritian officials. The goal is to secure accountability and establish measures to prevent similar detentions in the future. The commission emphasized its dedication to the safety and rights of Nigerian citizens globally, aligning with the objectives of President Bola Tinubu.
This resolution follows a wave of online criticism after reports surfaced on the social media platform X alleging the women had been detained at a Mauritian airport since July 31. Initial claims suggested the women were pressured to sign unfamiliar documents without clarification, leading to their confinement. One report indicated that a woman fell ill during the detention, which had been intended as a birthday trip.
While the intervention followed widespread public outcry, both NiDCOM and the Nigerian Embassy have refrained from detailing the specific reasons for the detention. Mauritian authorities have not yet issued an official statement regarding the situation.
