FG begins probe after evacuating Nigerian passengers assaulted by Togolese officials
The Federal Government says it has begun a probe of circumstances that led to the assault of some Nigerians inside a Togo Airport.
The Federal Government, on Saturday, evacuated some Nigerians, who were allegedly maltreated by Togolese security officials at the Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport, Lome.
A trending video had shown one of the victims on all fours being manhandled by six security officials at the airport.
He was subsequently handcuffed and taken away by the irate Togolese officials.
Reports stated that the Nigerians, who were traveling on Ethiopian Airlines from the United States of America to Lagos, got to Lome and were told that their connecting flight was full and that they could not continue the trip.
When some of them tried to protest, they were manhandled and handcuffed by the Togolese security personnel and airline staff members, and their telephones were also allegedly confiscated.
On hearing about the incident, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, who was attending the 3rd Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit being hosted by President Recep Erdogan of the Republic of Turkey, directed the Nigerian Ambassador to Togo, Mr Debo Adesina, to secure a charter aircraft for the evacuation of the travelers to Lagos.
The evacuation was reportedly overseen by the ambassador.
It was gathered that the flight landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, and the passengers had been united with their family members and loved ones.
The spokesman for the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said the incident was being investigated by the Nigerian embassy in Togo.
“The incident is true but our ambassador in Togo has been directed to investigate it,” he stated.
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