Two Nigerians students of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) held in an illegal migrants centre in Bosnia and Herzegovina are expected back into the country soon.
This is according to the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa who disclosed this in a statement.
She explained that their return is a sequel to a series of diplomatic interventions from the Nigerian Mission in Hungary and Mr. Geoffrey Onyema, Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, who directed for full investigations to be carried out.
Five students from the university, without the knowledge of the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation, attended an international table tennis competition in Croatia.
“According to a report, Abia Alexandro Uchenna, Eboh Kenneth Chinedu, and three other students arrived in Zagreb, capital of Croatia, on November 12, for the fifth world inter-university championships held in the country.
“They were allegedly arrested while taking a walk around the country’s capital on November 18 as they couldn’t produce relevant documents to the police.
“The police officers were reported to have transferred the students to the country’s Bosnia-Herzegovina border, where Croatian authorities had gathered a group of illegal migrants attempting to cross into the country.”
While two of them returned over two weeks ago, three of them stayed back, one had already applied for asylum.
“Arrangements have been concluded to send the two Nigerians back to Croatia anytime from two days ago, Friday, December 13, 2019, adding that the Nigerian Mission in Hungary has taken steps to ensure that the matter is resolved and the welfare of the two Nigerians protected.
“Five of them went for the table tennis event without the knowledge of the Nigerian Table Tennis Federation, two returned over two weeks ago, three of them stayed back while one already applied for asylum.
“Although the Croatia Authorities through our Ambassador in Budapest denied the allegation involving maltreatment by the Croatian Police, the Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama has demanded a full investigation into the matter.”
She said the conditions attached to their release include the usage of their return tickets from Zagreb, Croatia back to Nigeria and must not seek Asylum in Croatia, just as one of them did already.
Dabiri-Erewa appealed to Nigerians to always inform relevant authorities whenever they go on such trips outside the country and be of good behaviour.
