Friday, March 29, 2024

Nigerian Ambassador to Turkey denies students’ deportation

The Nigerian ambassador to Turkey, Dr. Ibrahim Isah, has denied the allegation that 50 Nigerian students in Turkey had been deported from the country, describing the report as an exaggeration.
Dr. Isah told The Point that few Nigerian students were turned back from the airport on arrival, and that the embassy had consequently raised a strong protest against the actions of the Turkish authorities.
“We are pursuing the case, including efforts to get four detained students released. The case of 50 being detained is what I am not aware of. I think that is exaggerated,” he told our correspondent.
There had been reports that about 50 Nigerian students were deported from the country and the Turkish presidency had not given any reason for its actions while there are speculations that the development is connected to the botched July 15 coup.
“I was shocked when I got to the Ataturk airport and an immigration officer seized my international passport, took me to another plane and waited for me to board back to Nigeria. When I asked for my passport, they said I would get it when I get to my country,” a final year student in one of the universities, believed to be owned by Fethullah Gulen’s Hizmet movement disclosed.
Gulen is an Islamic cleric, which President Recep Erdogan of Turkey considers as his strongest rival. After the failed coup, Erdogan launched a massive crackdown on the investments of Gulen’s followers. He blamed Gulen for the coup, but the cleric has denied the allegation.

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