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During his visit to NiDCOM office, Kristilere recounted the events of April 30, 2024, when he and 27 pilgrims were travelling to Israel and had a four-hour layover in Cairo.
The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has issued a cautionary advisory to its citizens travelling abroad following the recent maltreatment of a Nigerian national at Cairo International Airport.
Rev. Dr. Israel Kristilere, CEO of Oasis of Faith Intercontinental Limited and President of the Christian Tourism Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CTPAN), expressed dismay over the mistreatment he experienced at Cairo Tarmac in Egypt during a stopover on his pilgrimage to Israel.
During his visit to NiDCOM office, Kristilere recounted the events of April 30, 2024, when he and 27 pilgrims were travelling to Israel and had a four-hour layover in Cairo.
“Another first-class passenger and I were resting in the lounge. Around midnight, when I observed that boarding had commenced, and my group remained seated. Upon inquiry, I learnt they had instructed us to wait,” he narrated.
He stated that when he tried to board, airport security detained him on allegations of sexual abuse stemming from a fabricated complaint and a purported video recording that he was denied access to.
He said that he was compelled to apologise to the alleged victim to prevent court proceedings. He expressed sympathy for the woman, suggesting that someone else may have harmed her and she mistakenly identified him as the perpetrator.
Kristilere also documented his refusal to sign an Arabic document by writing “I DO NOT KNOW” above his surname while recording the audio of the encounter through his phone.
During the crisis, the desk manager intervened, leading to Kristilere’s passport being returned and his release. In the early hours of May 1, the 27 pilgrims, who had insisted on waiting for him, departed Cairo together.
In response to the troubling story, the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, represented by the Secretary to the Commission, Dr. Sule Yakubu Bassi, clarified that NIDCOM would present the petition to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Embassy in Egypt, stating that they have the power and jurisdiction to intervene and conduct an investigation.
Dabiri-Erewa apologised for the mistreatment endured by Kristilere, stressing that no Nigerian should experience inhumane treatment abroad.
She, however, commended 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 further assured that the commission will continue to advocate for the dignified and humane treatment and privileges of Nigerians worldwide.
