Nigerian girls detained in Mauritius freed

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The commission added that its Chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, was working with the relevant Nigerian diplomatic mission to address the incident.

Nigerian girls detained at an airport in Mauritius have regained their freedom, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has confirmed.

NiDCOM said the girls were released on Monday and were on their way back to Nairobi, Kenya.

Their detention attracted public attention after a video showing them in custody circulated on social media.

The woman who shared the footage said the girls had been held at the Mauritius airport since July 31 and called on Nigerian authorities to intervene.

“The Nigerian girls who were previously detained have been released,” NiDCOM said.

“They are currently on their way back to Nairobi.”

The commission added that its Chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, was working with the relevant Nigerian diplomatic mission to address the incident.

According to NiDCOM, the mission has formally contacted the authorities concerned to establish what happened and prevent a recurrence.

The commission reiterated its commitment to protecting the welfare of Nigerians living or travelling abroad.

NiDCOM did not disclose the identities of the girls or the circumstances that led to their detention.

Mauritian authorities have also not publicly explained why the Nigerians were held at the airport.