The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has confirmed the release of a group of Nigerian girls who were detained in Mauritius, announcing that they are now travelling back to Nairobi following diplomatic intervention.
The commission disclosed the development on Monday in a statement issued by its Digital Media Unit, days after a viral video showing the girls in detention sparked widespread outrage on social media and renewed calls for government action.
The girls had reportedly been held at the Mauritius airport since July 31, triggering concern among Nigerians after an Instagram user, identified as Queenbethia, shared footage of their ordeal and appealed to authorities to intervene.
Confirming their release, NiDCOM said the affected Nigerians had regained their freedom and were already en route to Nairobi.
The commission added that its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, is working closely with the relevant Nigerian embassy to ensure the incident is thoroughly addressed with the authorities in Mauritius.
According to the agency, the diplomatic engagement is aimed at ensuring accountability while preventing a recurrence of similar incidents involving Nigerian citizens abroad.
NiDCOM reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of Nigerians living and travelling outside the country, noting that the intervention aligns with the Federal Government’s renewed focus on the well-being of its citizens.
The commission, however, did not reveal the identities of the affected girls or provide details of the circumstances that led to their detention.
It also did not state when the girls are expected to return to Nigeria, while Mauritian authorities had yet to issue an official explanation regarding the incident as of the time of filing this report.