The Polish government has made a formal appeal to the Nigerian authorities for the release of six Polish students and their lecturer who were detained during a recent protest in Nigeria.
The appeal was led by Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Jakub Wisniewski, who emphasized that the detained individuals were not involved in the protest but were merely taking photographs.
Speaking on the allegations that the detained Poles were seen waving a Russian flag during the protest, Wisniewski expressed strong doubts about the claims.
He stated, “I personally find this claim hard to believe. We are urging for their safe return home, where their loved ones are anxiously waiting for them.”
Efforts to obtain a statement from Professor Sławomir Żółtek, a representative of the Student Affairs and Quality of Teaching at the university where the students are enrolled, were unsuccessful. Calls to his phone were not answered.
Meanwhile, a former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Professor Bola Akinterinwa, has urged the Polish government to remain patient while the investigation is ongoing.
He highlighted that the security forces did not target the students at their university but arrested them on the streets during the protest.
He suggested that Poland should wait for the investigation’s outcome before intervening, noting, “It is only after investigation and they (Polish government) feel that the students didn’t get justice that they can intervene.”
