Nigerians detained in Poland after fleeing Ukraine choose between evacuation, Polish asylum

Many of the 19 Nigerians fleeing the Ukrainian war, but  detained in various camps in Poland have been released.

No fewer than 13 have been reportedly release following the intervention of the Nigeria Ambassador to Poland, Major General Christian Ugwu (rtd).

A statement on Wednesday by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, confirmed one of those remaining is a Cameroonian.

“Unfortunately, the remaining five, all applied for international protection (asylum) in Poland including Igwe Ikechukwu Christian, who had been interviewed by some foreign media.

“They cannot be released until the Govermment of Poland takes a decision on their application or they decide to withdraw the application,” the envoy added.

President Muhammad Buhari had in March approved the immediate evacuation of Nigerians mostly students trapped in the Russian-Ukrainian crisis.

Some of the Nigerians chose to stay back and were clamped into detention centres in Poland.

At least 1600 of those trapped there were evacuated in the wake of the war.