A Nigerian named Oladimeji has shared his ordeal of being arrested in Togo, along with his friend Cosmos, without a fair trial.
The incident occurred when they were traveling to Canada and decided to make a stop in Togo due to the perceived cheaper flight options.
The trouble began on November 8, 2023, when airport officials at the Ethiopia Airlines stand accused them of traveling with fake visas and passports.
Despite explaining that they obtained their visas through an agent and followed proper procedures for their passports, the airport officials remained adamant.
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The situation escalated when the officials demanded $600 for bail, which Oladimeji and Cosmos refused to pay. Consequently, they were taken to the police station and later sent to prison.
Oladimeji emphasized that their human rights were violated, and the police refused to take them to the Nigerian Embassy in Togo for document verification.
He noted that a friend who witnessed the incident reported it to the Nigerian Embassy, leading to consulates verifying the authenticity of their passports.
The verification confirmed the passports were original, but Togo police, unprofessionally, refused their release and locked them up for five days before transferring them to prison.
He warned Nigerians to avoid flying from Togo, emphasizing the alleged hostility towards Nigerians in the country.
Oladimeji urged travelers to be cautious and equipped with proper documents to prevent such incidents.
In response to the incident, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) spokesperson, Abdulrahman Balogun, stated that while the case is plausible, the agency had not been officially informed.
He encouraged those involved or their families to report the details officially for the commission to initiate investigations.
Balogun reiterated the importance of traveling with legal documents to avoid issues with foreign officials and stressed the need for official reporting in case of incidents.
The broader context notes that in recent years, several Nigerians have faced extrajudicial killings and other challenges in foreign nations.
Balogun acknowledged the need for caution when crossing borders due to global security concerns.
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