The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has warned parents against sending their children to universities in Northern Cyprus due to the incessant and mysterious killing of Nigerians in the European nation.
Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, issued the warning on Monday, August 24, 2020, when a delegation led by a judge of the Kaduna State High Court, Justice Aminat Ahmad Bello, visited the commission’s office in Abuja.
KanyiDaily recalls that Justice Bello had earlier narrated how her 25-year-old son, Ibrahim Khaleel Bello, who was a third year Civil Engineering student of Girne American University in Girne (Kyrenia), Northern Cyprus, was killed by some people in the country.
Reacting to the development, Dabiri-Erewa said it was too risky to send children to schools in Northern Cyprus as hundreds of Nigerian students had been killed there mysteriously without any conclusive investigations.
She insisted that the country should be blacklisted and therefore called on parents to be wary of sending their wards to Northern Cyprus as the country was not recognized by the United Nations except the Republic of Turkey, adding that Nigeria has no diplomatic ties with the country.
“The death of Ibrahim khaleel Bello should be a tipping point to end the continuous killings of Nigerian students anywhere in the world, particularly Northern Cyprus.
“The time has come for us to blacklist all these universities in Northern Cyprus and advise our students from seeking any form of admission there as it portends danger to their life and future.
“It is not only Ibrahim. Kennedy Dede, Augustine Ngok, Gabriel Sorewei, Osabanjo Owoyale, Augustine Wallace, Stanley Eteno, Hassan Babatunde, Temitayo Adigun, and Kubat Abraham are just a few of the ones that we even know.
“The problem is that most Nigerian parents do not know that Northern Cyprus is not recognised by any country in the world.
“It is not a UN-recognised country. It is only recognised by Turkey. That is why we have not been able to do much.
“Who do you report to? Thousands of Nigerian students are schooling there and I tell you that hundreds have been killed. Who do you take these cases to?
“And they are killed in similar circumstances. The school just tells you, ‘Well, they committed suicide,’ and nothing happens.”
Dabiri-Erewa however assured the delegation led by Justice Bello that NIDCOM would work with the Ministry of Justice, Nigerian Mission in Turkey and other relevant agencies to ensure justice is done.
She added that the office of the Attorney General of the Federation had already reported the matter to Interpol for further investigation.
KanyiDaily had also reported how the body of a missing 33-year old Nigerian student studying in Cyprus International University, was found in his car boot.
