Minister Radosław Sikorski spoke today with Mr. Jacek Półrolniczak, a representative of the students' families, and expressed gratitude for their cooperation.
"The young people are now on campus in Kano with their passports. This lengthy ordeal has happily come to an end. I am very pleased and thankful for the good cooperation between the families and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was very helpful," Sikorski emphasized in a social media update.
"I believe the students have received an accelerated lesson in African studies. Congratulations, and I hope they will return home soon," added the Polish top diplomat.
University of Warsaw students released from detention in Nigeria
The six students and their lecturer from the University of Warsaw’s Oriental Studies department were detained in early August in Kano, northern Nigeria, after being involved in anti-government protests. There were claims that the Polish group was carrying Russian flags, but these allegations were denied by the Polish side.
Since early August, hundreds of thousands of Nigerians have been protesting against severe economic reforms by President Bola Tinubu, which included the partial removal of fuel and electricity subsidies. The currency devaluation and inflation have reached their highest levels in three decades.
According to later information, the students and their lecturer were placed in a hotel. The group had traveled to Nigeria for a language course organized as part of a university program. The University of Warsaw’s working with Polish and international authorities, was actively involved in securing their release.
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Source: IAR/X/@MSZ_RP
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