In his post, the Minister of Foreign Affairs also thanked the authorities of Nigeria for their cooperation so far. As the head of the ministry said, the families of people detained in the African country are “informed on an ongoing basis” about the situation.
Referring to the conversation between the group staying at the hotel and the Polish consul in Abuja, Sikorski also added that the families “will soon receive a photo from the meeting.”
The Prime Minister also spoke on the matter. He said that on Friday he would meet with the heads of the Ministry of Interior and Administration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the detained in Nigeria students of Oriental studies from the University of Warsaw. He informed that the situation of Poles “is not dramatic in terms of the safety of the group”. – But I prefer to make sure – added Donald Tusk.
– The explanation (from the Nigerian side – ed.) that it was going out at night and taking pictures at the time when demonstrations were taking place somewhere is not enough. First of all, I will want to know from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs whether I personally can do something to end the matter as soon as possible – said the head of government.
Polish students detained in Nigeria. There is new information
Six students and a lecturer were detained in Nigeria. Reuters reported the case on Wednesday. Peter Afunanya, spokesman for the state security services, said at the time that the Poles had been detained “to ensure security.” At the same time, he did not provide details, although he emphasized that the main operational activities were not aimed at Polish citizens.
In the dispatch, Reuters also wrote that citizens of our country were raising Russian flags during anti-government protests. This information was denied by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrzej Szejna.
– They were in the wrong place at the wrong time. They were not carrying any flags, but they were taking photos, it seems, and that was how it was interpreted. They were not put in prison, they are staying in a hotel – Szejna said.
Interia also contacted the Nigerian side in the matter. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of that country reported that seven Polish citizens were detained “in connection with their suspicious role in the protests and hanging Russian flags”. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Polish Embassy were informed about the incident. During the investigation, the institution obtained permission to access the indicated individuals” – it was written in a statement sent to Interia.
Nigeria. Poles detained. Students’ relatives at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
On Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of Nigeria in Warsaw had been invited to the building of the Polish ministry “in order to work together to free the group of Polish students and clarify the situation”.
Representatives of the ministry also met with family members of the detained Poles. They do not believe in the circumstances of the intervention of the Nigerian services. – For the sake of the well-being of our children, we will not provide any information. We cannot – said the participants of the conversation in front of the ministry building.
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