The Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, (NiDCOM), Hon. (Dr.) Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has condemned the profiling and the illegal detention of Nigerians and other African citizens in Poland detention centers.
Dabiri-Erewa, who said the illegal detention is “unacceptable and reprehensible”, has considered it fit to organize, in partnership with National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), and Project Victory Call Initiative (PVC) a Psycho-Social Trauma Clinic for all Ukraine returnees who successfully made it through to the country.
In a statement issued by NiDCOM spokesperson, Gabriel Odu, it was confirmed that Dabiri-Erewa, commended the efforts of President Mohammadu Buhari in making every necessary arrangements for Nigerians caught up in the Ukrainian war to safely return home.
Dr. Dabiri-Erewa added that, although some Nigerians have refused to return home, choosing to remain in some neigbouring countries to Ukraine like Poland, but she is the opinion that, instead of Poland to Ill treat them by keeping them in “tortuous detention centers”, the most appropriate action for Poland as a country to do is to deport such persons back to their countries.
Event Organizers
The NiDCOM boss however emphasized that the two day Psycho-Social Trauma Clinic, which was just the preliminary, as the exercise will be a continuous one in the six (6) geo political zones, guarantees counseling sessions for all returnees who need the services.
Speaking during the Clinic session organized in Abuja, the Federal-Comissioner, Refugees Commission, Mrs. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, said, “We tend to ignore our mental health but mental health is key.”
Mrs. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim also affirmed that, although Nigerians are resilient people, but not all have the same capacity when it comes to resilience and hence the need for the Clinic platform for those who that need extra support or assistance.
She reaffirmed the Commission’s goal to rehabilitate, resettle, and integrate Nigerians returnees who need the psychosocial support at any time.
On the part of the Convener Project Victory (PVC), Dr. Bolaji Akinyemi, the importance for the prompt creation of the programme cannot be overemphasized stating that trauma has caused mental and socio psychological issues; with an addendum that, PVC will give free and accessible services to every returnee with no cost.
A Nigerian returnee from Ukraine, Mr. Fehintola Damilola Moses, who doubles as the President of Nigeria Students in Ukraine thanked the organizers while also recounting the terrifying experiences faced in the Ukraine-Russia war.
He said, “We had to boil snow to drink water.”