By Six Polish students and a lecturer from Warsaw University, who were detained in Nigeria during recent protests, have been released and are preparing to return home, the Polish foreign ministry announced Wednesday. The group, held in the northern city of Kano, is reported to be in good health and expected to arrive in Poland later this week.
Foreign ministry spokesman Pawel Wronski confirmed that the seven Polish citizens have had their passports, laptops, and personal belongings returned. They are currently staying at the university campus in Kano while arrangements for their departure are finalized.
The group was in Nigeria as part of a program to study the Hausa language when they were detained earlier this month during political protests in Kano state. Nigeria’s secret service initially claimed they were carrying Russian flags, an allegation that Polish officials deemed highly improbable given Poland’s strained relations with Russia.
“Our students were at the wrong time at the wrong place,” Wronski stated, emphasizing the importance of caution when traveling to distant locations. He noted that the foreign ministry regularly posts travel warnings and advice on its website, including a specific warning about the “quite complicated” political situation in Kano state.
The detention of the Polish nationals occurred against the backdrop of widespread protests in Nigeria against the country’s cost-of-living crisis and alleged governmental mismanagement. In some northern states, a few protesters were seen waving Russian flags, a phenomenon previously uncommon in Africa outside of coup-affected countries where pro-Russian sentiments have been growing.
Polish officials maintained throughout the incident that the situation was likely a misunderstanding. The group was held at a hotel in Kano while diplomatic efforts to secure their release were underway.
The case had raised concerns in Poland, where pro-Russian sentiment is rare due to historical grievances and current opposition to Russian aggression in Ukraine. Polish society has been strongly supportive of Ukraine in the ongoing conflict.
As the Polish nationals prepare to return home, the incident serves as a reminder of the potential risks faced by international students and researchers in politically volatile regions. It also highlights the complexities of international relations and the importance of diplomatic channels in resolving such situations.
The Polish foreign ministry has not provided further details about the circumstances leading to the group’s release or any conditions attached to their departure from Nigeria. As the situation unfolds, it is likely to prompt discussions about safety protocols for academic programs in potentially unstable areas and the need for enhanced communication between foreign ministries and citizens traveling abroad for extended periods.
