The federal government of Nigeria has voiced its condemnation of Poland’s detention of Nigerians as well as other African students fleeing a war-ravaged Ukraine.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), expressed dismay with the situation in Abuja.
“Take a look at what’s going on in Poland. Some Africans and Nigerians have chosen to remain in the United States rather than return home. Ms. Dabiri-Erewa revealed that “the Polish authorities are now going around arresting blacks and throwing them in detention facilities.”
“Those Nigerians who refused to return are in danger,” she continued. Some are being held in Poland’s prison camps, where they are in a horrific situation. However, just because Nigeria offered them the chance to return home and they declined, does not mean the Polish authorities will seize them and detain them.”
Ms. Dabiri-Erewa said the students’ imprisonment was unlawful and distressing when she spoke at the start of a two-day Psychosocial Trauma Clinic for Ukraine returnees on Thursday.
“The federal government is now demanding that the Poland authorities release the African students who are being held there.” She stated, “It is not right for them to detain the blacks because they chose to seek refuge in their own country.”
“They don’t put white people in those prison centers.” So, rather than capturing them in detention centers, which is the height of discrimination in a war situation, send them back to their countries.”