'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has called for Nigerians traveling abroad to exercise caution to avoid unfortunate incidents. This advice follows a recent incident involving Rev. Dr. Israel Kristilere, who faced maltreatment at Cairo Airport during a layover on his pilgrimage to Israel.
Rev. Kristilere, CEO of Oasis of Faith Intercontinental Limited and President of the Christian Tourism Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CTPAN), recounted his ordeal from April 30, 2024. He and 27 other pilgrims were en route to Israel with a four-hour stopover in Cairo. While waiting in the lounge around midnight, he noticed boarding had commenced but his group had not been called. Upon inquiry, he was told to wait.
Attempting to board, Rev. Kristilere was detained by airport security on accusations of sexual abuse, based on a complaint and a supposed video he was not allowed to view. Forced to apologize to avoid court proceedings, he expressed sympathy for the alleged victim, documented his refusal to sign an Arabic document, and recorded the encounter on his phone.
The intervention of the Desk Manager led to the return of Rev. Kristilere’s passport and his release. At around 1 a.m. on May 1, the 27 pilgrims, who refused to leave without him, departed Cairo together.
Reacting to the incident, Dabiri-Erewa, represented by Dr. Sule Yakubu Bassi, Secretary to the Commission, assured that NiDCOM would bring Rev. Kristilere's petition to the attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Embassy in Egypt for intervention and investigation. She apologized for the maltreatment he endured, emphasizing that no Nigerian should face inhumane treatment abroad.
Dabiri-Erewa praised Rev. Kristilere for securing support from the Christian Pilgrims Commission and encouraged him to forward relevant documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Egyptian Embassy. She assured that NiDCOM would continue to advocate for the dignified and humane treatment of Nigerians worldwide.
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