*Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, stresses there is some form of danger emanating from Northern Cyprus as alluded to in the letter issued by the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

Against the recent security concerns in the region of the country, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has revealed names of Nigerians killed in Northern Cyprus without any resolution since 2016 till this very moment.

绿帽献妻 reports Hon. Dabiri-Erewa disclosed these in a statement Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Spokesman of the Commission, signed and released Thursday, September 8, 2022.

The statement was said to have issued, following a letter Hidayet Bayraktar,聽 Ambassador of the Republic of T眉rkey to Nigeria, purportedly written to dispute earlier claims by Dabiri-Erewa on threats to Nigerians living in Northern Cyprus.

It is recalled that NiDCOM Chairman at a recent media briefing held in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, FCT, lamented the unfortunate incidence of killings of Nigerian students in Northern Cyprus.

She had advised Nigerians, especially would-be students to stay away from travelling to such a country as it鈥檚 not recognised by the international community, except Turkey.

The NiDCOM Chief and her team had reportedly聽 visited the Turkish Embassy twice to discuss issues related to Nigerians welfare, in Turkey, and Northern Cyprus to no avail.

Dabiri-Erewa, who lamented that most of these deaths recorded in Northern Cyprus are without any resolution from 2016 till date.

She also disclosed as names as follows: Mr. Ibrahim Khaleel Bello (25) , son of Justice Amina Ahmad Bello of Kaduna State High Court (2020). 2. Kennedy Taomwabwa Dede, 28, student of Eastern Mediterranean University and was killed on February 1, 2018.

3. Walshak Augustine Ngok, a student of Marine Engineering at Near East University, murdered on April 19, 2019.
4. Gabriel Soriwei, a first year student of Electrical Electronics of Cyprus International University, Nicosia.
5. Osabanjo Adeola Owoyale, 33, went missing and found dead on July 1, 2019.
6. Augustine Wallies killed on April 19, 2019
7. Stanley Eteimo, (28)
8. Hassan Babatunde, (28).
9. Temitayo Adigun
10. Kubiat Abasi
11. Abraham Okon
12. Oziegbe Gospower Airekugose
13. Olasubomi Ope, among many others.

Dabiri-Erewa as well pointed out that the earlier statement was an advisory, which is in line with Nigerians diplomacy, saying 鈥渙ne has option to either key into it or ignore.鈥�

According to her, this should not be misconstrued as exaggeration or an attempt to scare away potential travellers to Northern Cyprus.

However, the NiDCOM Chief Executive has appealed to the Turkish Embassy in Nigeria to do all it can to protect Nigerians in Northern Cyprus, particularly students, optimistic that the reaction to recent statement would elicit positive and proactive reaction from the Embassy.

The Turkish Ambassador鈥檚 Letter

Dabiri-Erewa said, 鈥淲hether it is Nigerians killing Nigerians or drug related crimes, there is some form of danger emanating from Northern Cyprus as alluded to in the Ambassador鈥檚 letter which stated below:

鈥淚 do not dispute that some unfortunate criminal incidents took place in the TRNC, as it happens in any part of the world. “However, the occurrence of such incidents is certainly not a daily routine and all these cases are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly by the TRNC authorities.

鈥淢oreover, since in many cases, Nigerian citizens are not only victims, but also perpetrators of crimes committed in the TRNC, necessary measure will be taken by the relevant agencies in order to prevent young Nigerians and every other student from falling victims.鈥�

Dabiri-Erewa further said the Commission is concerned over its responsible mandate to oversee the welfare and well being of Nigerians, gladdened that Ambassador has promised to take 鈥渘ecessary measures鈥�.

She advised the citizens to always be law-abiding wherever they find themselves and be good ambassadors of the country.

鈥淣igeria will not fold its arms and allow her citizens to be molested or killed in unjustifiable manner when seeking knowledge in a foreign land.