Update:The 6 Nigerians detained in Cape Verde Now Relased

Six Nigerians Detained in Cape Verde Finally Released, Now Safe in Senegal

Following the news of six Nigerian tourists who were detained in Cape Verde under questionable circumstances, as I reported last week, thankfully, in a positive turn of events, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has confirmed that the group has been released and is now safe in Senegal.

For context, the six travellers, David James Udoh, Lily Dada, Oghenero Adaware, Sherifat Abimbola Ogundairo, and Jesutomi Aina had embarked on what was supposed to be a fun getaway from Senegal to Cape Verde. But things quickly took a sour turn when they were arrested by immigration officials upon arrival. According to reports, they were accused of not having “sufficient funds” to support their stay, a claim that seemed shaky at best.

What made this situation even more concerning was how their basic rights were disregarded. Their phones were seized, cutting them off from communication, and they were held at an airport immigration deportation facility with limited access to proper care. One of the detainees reportedly needed medication and was denied access, raising red flags about their well-being while in custody.

One of the friends of the travellers raised alarm on X, formerly called Twitter and brought attention to the situation and in response, NiDCOM, led by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, swung into action. The commission made a public appeal to Cape Verdean authorities, requesting the immediate release of the detained Nigerians.

Thankfully, the advocacy worked.

As of the latest update, all six Nigerians detained in Cape Verde have been released and transported back to Senegal, where they are currently being cared for by the Nigerian Embassy. NiDCOM confirmed their safety in a tweet. The Commission also noted that the group will be returning to Nigeria soon.

UPDATE:
The 6 detained Nigerian tourists have been released and are now in Senegal. They will be back home soon.

Cc @abikedabiri @SaharaReporters @DOlusegun @ARISEtv @abati1990 @BBCAfrica @channelstv @daily_trust @instablog9ja @MobilePunch @NTANewsNow @tvcnewsng @thecableng… https://t.co/LmrpGA1Kb5

— Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (@nidcom_gov) April 17, 2025

 This entire incident serves as a stark reminder of how easily international travel can spiral into a nightmare, especially when questions of race, nationality bias come into play. While we’re relieved they’re safe, we also hope this situation of the 6 Nigerians detained in Cape Verde sparks broader conversations around how African travellers are treated across borders.

We can all breathe a collective sigh of relief that they made it out of what could have easily become a horrible situation, and they are safe and sound now.