The Nigerian government says it has secured the release of 13 out of 19 Nigerians detained in various camps in Poland.
Many Nigerians, mostly students, ended up being incarcerated in Poland while fleeing the war in Ukraine. Authorities in Poland denied them shelter in the country despite complete documentation, saying only Ukrainians and other nationals of European countries will be granted refuge.
However, the detained persons have been released followed the intervention of the Nigeria Ambassador to Poland, Major General Christian Ugwu (rtd).
Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, announced their release in a statement.
The statement quoted Ugwu as saying that among the remaining six persons in detention camps, one claimed to be a Cameroonian.
“Unfortunately, the remaining five, all applied for international protection (asylum) in Poland including Igwe Ikechukwu Christian, who had been interviewed by some foreign media.
“They can not be released untill the Govermment of Poland takes a decision on their application or they decide to withdraw the application,” the envoy added.
The Nigerian Ambassador to Poland reiterated the commitment of the mission to continue doing its best to ensure that the interest of Nigerians were well taken care of, despite the fact that they had been adequately warned of the likely consequences of being left as undocumented immigrants in Poland.
Recall that President Muhammad Buhari had in March approved the immediate evacuation of Nigerians mostly students trapped in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.
The directive was carried out by the interministerial agencies coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with over 1,600 Nigerians brought back home.
However, some of the Nigerians chose to stay back and were clamped into detention centres in Poland.
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