The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has raised concerns over the detention of six Nigerian tourists by immigration authorities in Cape Verde.

According to a statement issued by the commission via its X handle yesterday, the group, which travelled from Senegal to Cape Verde for a vacation, was stopped on arrival, accused of not having sufficient funds, and had their mobile phones confiscated.

“The attention of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has been drawn to a case involving six Nigerian tourists who travelled from Senegal to Cape Verde Island on vacation.

“Upon arrival in Cape Verde, they were pulled out of the queue, accused of not having enough funds, and had their phones confiscated.”

They were subsequently detained at an immigration deportation camp at the airport,” the statement read in part.

The tourists — identified as David James Udoh, Lily Dada, Oghenero Adaware, Sherifat Abimbola Ogundairo, Jesutomi Aina, and accompanied by a representative from the travel agency, Ìrìn Travels, were held in the facility, the commission added.

NiDCOM stated that reports from the detention centre indicate the group is currently in distress, with one member reportedly suffering from a medical condition and lacking access to necessary medication.

The commission called on Cape Verdean immigration authorities to handle the matter with “respect and dignity” and to “put them on the next immediate return flight to Dakar for onward connection back to Nigeria.”