Two Nigerians Reportedly Locked Up in Togolese Prison While Trying to Catch Cheap Flight to Canada
- Two Nigerian citizens are reportedly languishing in a Togolese prison after airport authorities hounded them on November 8, 2023
- They were on their way to Canada via Togo, having learned that they could get cheaper flights from there instead of Lagos or Abuja
- A message one of them managed to squeeze out to Canada-based academic, Olumuyiwa Igbalajobi, disclosed that they were sentenced to six months in prison
- An official of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM told Legit.ng that the body is aware of the case
Two Nigerian citizens have cried out for help after they were reportedly sent to prison by Togolese authorities.
According to the report, they were on their way to Canada through the Togolese airport, where they had hoped to catch a cheaper light.
Source: Getty Images
In a save-our-souls message one of them sent to Canada-based academic, Olumuyiwa Igbalajobi, they said they were arrested at the airport in Togo.
As a result of the arrest, they ended up missing their flights as they were taken in for questioning.
Accused of possessing fake passports and visas
The authorities accused them of possessing fake visas and fake Nigerian passports, an allegation they have stoutly denied. They have been sentenced to six months in prison.
They wrote:
"One of our friends in Nigeria escorted us to Togo to bid us farewell, so he saw all that happened and went straight to the Nigeria embassy in Togo the following day. God so good, two of the consulates came on our behalf and sent our passport details to Abuja for verification, and the result came back that our passports were original. These Togo police were so unprofessional; they were accusing us of using fake passports to travel while the report from the airport was fake passports and fake visas. After our embassy had verified our passports to be original and requested for our release, Togo police refused and locked us for five days. After five days, we were taken to the prison. We are presently in Togo prison as I type this message to you.
"I want people to learn from this. Togo is not a good country, and they hate Nigerians so much. When we go to the prisons we meet so many Nigerians here. In fact, the population of Nigerians in Togo prison is almost more than the Togolese citizens."
Commenting on the story, an official of NIDCOM who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter told Legit.ng the commission is aware of the situation. He said it has been taken up at the highest level. His words:
"The best I can tell you is that NIDCOM is aware. The chairman is aware, and I'm aware they are in touch with the Togolese Embassy and the Togolese officials. And I'm also aware that they are trying to find out the situation about all Nigerians in the prison. I can assure you that everything is being done about the issue of Nigerians in Togo. The commission is taking it very seriously because there is the need to profile every person and find out why they are in the prison in the first place."
See the full story below:
Reactions as two Nigerians reportedly end up in prison while moving to Canada
@LadyGrasha said:
"This is very worrisome and I hope the Nigerian government looks into it and address it. Nigerians dey suffer in and outside the country. Smh."
@habsalone said:
"Speechless. Africa is the real ghetto. You can simply verify all these things. Why the ill-treatment of your fellow Africans?"
Visa agent disappears with man's N15 million
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that a Nigerian man paid N15 million for a Canadian visa, but the agent in charge disappeared with the money.
The man sold his two cars and a parcel of land he inherited from his father to raise the money to travel to Canada.
But it appears his dreams will not come true because the person doing the visa for him has disappeared without a trace.
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Source: Legit.ng
