FG Demands Release Of Detained Students In Turkey

The Federal Government has reportedly summoned the Turkish ambassador to Nigeria, Hakan Cakil, over the detention of some Nigerian students in Istanbul by the Turkish police.



It will be recalled that Thisday reports that the detained students who stated that “upon arrival at Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul, they were all escorted to a room and their passports [were] confiscated by Turkish police.”

Reacting to the reports, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Sola Enikanolaiye, who spoke with newsmen said that the Nigerian government expected a reasonable explanation from Cakil regarding the poor treatment of the students and directed the envoy to ensure their release without delay.

He stated that a Nigerian official in Ankara, Turkey had been directed to meet the Turkish government over the issue, stressing that the students must be released immediately.

“We summoned the Turkish ambassador to the ministry on Friday and demanded the immediate release of the students.

“We also rejected the condition imposed on the students that they should return to Nigeria and obtain a fresh visa in line with their admission to a new university. We insisted that they must be issued the new visa in Turkey there.”

The Nigerian students are said to be schooling at Fathi University, which is among 2,099 schools and universities that were reportedly shut down after July 15 failed coup.