NIDCOM Boss Was There For Us, Says Two Nigerians Held Hostage in Bosnia Border Camp
Oru Leonard
Two Nigerian Students, Abia Uchenna and Eboh Chinedu, of the Federal University of Technology Owerri who were held hostage, have said that the Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora (NiDCOM), catered for them like a mother during their ordeal in Croatia and the Bosnia-Herzegovina Border camp.
The Students said this when they were officially received on Saturday, December 21, 2019, by the Secretary, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission Engr. Dr. Sule Yakubu Bassi on behalf of the Chairman/CEO NIDCOM, Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
Dr Bassi urged the two Nigerians youths to always be of good behaviour wherever and whenever they find themselves by obeying the laws of their country of stay. Dr Bassi commended the Federal Government through the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, the Nigerian Ambassador to Hungary and all Mission Staff for the humane and prompt response to the plight of the two Nigerians.
Furthermore, the NIDCOM Secretary commended the timely and untiring efforts and energy by the Chairman/CEO of NIDCOM Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa for ensuring their release and return home to Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Uchenna and Chinedu after narrating their ordeals which include: language barrier, harsh and hostile treatment and camp conditions as well as feeding. They said they are however overwhelmed with combined efforts of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and NiDCOM after a journalist in the city made the story to be viral.
Expressing joy to be back home, They said, “we are very very very happy to be back home to Nigeria. There is no country better than Nigeria especially the freedom we enjoy here.” We want to thank especially Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa. She is indeed a mother. That woman is so so kind.”
They continued: “the way she spoke to us on telephone from Nigeria when we were in camp in Bosnia was very encouraging. We can’t thank her enough; she put us in hotel and fed us very well here in Abuja.”
“We are appreciative of the quick intervention of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nigerian Ambassador to Hungary and all Embassy Staff in Budapest.”
It could be recalled that the duo were in Croatia for the International University Table Tennis Tournament but were arrested while on a walk out in the capital for their inability to present supporting documents (which they claimed were in their hotel rooms) and were transferred to Bosnia-Herzegovina Border Camp where migrants are processed. They were arrested on November 16, 2019 but released and back home December 21st, 2019.
