By Editor
Thirteen out of 19 detained Nigerians who fled from Ukraine war have been released from various camps in Poland, InfantNG learnt.
However, five who refused release applied for international protection (asylum) in Poland.
Remaining one detainee claimed to be a Cameroonian because his mum is from Cameroon.
The Nigeria Ambassador to Poland, His Excellency, Major General Christian Ugwu ( Rtd ) made this known in a press statement on Wednesday.
“Unfortunately, the remaining five, all applied for international protection (asylum) in Poland including Igwe Ikechukwu Christian, who had been interviewed by some foreign media.
“They can not be released untill the Govermment of Poland takes a decision on their application or they decide to withdraw the application”, the Envoy added.
He assured Nigerians that the Mission will continue to do its best to ensure that the interest of Nigerians are well taken care of, despite the fact that they had been adequately briefed on the likely consequences of remaining as undocumented immigrants in Poland.
It would be recalled that President Muhammad Buhari had in March immediately approved the evacuation of Nigerians mostly students trapped in the Russian- Ukrainian crisis back home.
The directive was swiftly carried out by the interministerial agencies coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with over 1600 Nigerians brought back home.
However, some of the Nigerians chose to remain behind and were clamped into detention centres in Poland.
Speaking on the development, Hon. (Dr) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) commended the successful intervention of the Nigerian mission in Poland , and reiterated the call for Nigerians to obey the laws of the countries they reside.
