The Polish government stated on Saturday that its seven nationals, recently detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Kano, were merely photographing a hunger protest in the state.
Additionally, six Spanish nationals were also detained during the protest.
Contrary to DSS allegations, the Polish government denied that its citizens were waving the Russian flag during the protest.
DSS spokesperson Dr. Peter Afunanya, during a meeting with diplomats in Abuja, claimed the arrests were due to the individuals’ presence at the protest and their display of foreign flags. However, the Polish Foreign Ministry refuted these allegations.
According to TVP World, a Polish international news network, the Ministry clarified that the detainees—six students and their lecturer—were not participating in the protest but were simply taking photographs.
The detained individuals were part of an exchange program at Bayero University, Kano, from the University of Warsaw’s African Studies program. They had arrived in Nigeria on August 1 and were scheduled to return to Poland in early September.
Anna Modzelewska, Press Officer of the University of Warsaw, emphasized that securing the release of the students is the institution’s top priority. TVP World reported Modzelewska’s statement: “Freeing the UW [University of Warsaw] students is our priority. We must do everything in our power for that to happen as quickly as possible.”
University Rector Alojzy Nowak has been in contact with the detainees, and efforts are ongoing to gather information on the charges against them.
On Friday, Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Jakub Wisniewski appealed to the Nigerian government for the release of the detainees. Regarding the claim that the Polish nationals waved the Russian flag, Wisniewski expressed skepticism, urging for their safe return.
Meanwhile, Omooba Ayoola, Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Poland, appealed to President Bola Tinubu for the release of the students and their lecturer. Ayoola, based in Warsaw, called on Tinubu to use his influence to facilitate their release, emphasizing the importance of deepening bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Poland.
In a statement, Ayoola said, “It is regretted that the Polish nationals were found at the wrong place and at the wrong time. However, these students are in the country for academic exchange programs, and we should avoid actions that could hinder deeper academic cooperation between the two countries. I, therefore, plead that in the spirit of deeper bilateral cooperation, President Tinubu should please passionately look into this disturbing issue and help these students to regain their freedom so that they can focus on their primary purpose of coming to Nigeria.”
