ABUJA, Nigeria – A former Polish parliamentarian, Professor John Abraham Godson, has commended Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), for her intervention in securing the release of seven Polish nationals arrested in Kano during recent protests.
Godson, who also served as a district councillor and deputy chairman in Poland, said in a letter to Dabiri-Erewa dated August 28th, 2024, that her efforts in delivering his appeal for the release of the arrested individuals to President Bola Tinubu was instrumental in their freedom.
“Thank you for delivering my letter of appeal for their release to the President,” Godson wrote. “Thank you for the concern and care you showed throughout this ordeal.”
The arrested individuals included six students from the University of Warsaw’s Department of Oriental Studies – Julia, Martyna, Karolina, Szymon, Antoni, and Jan – along with their professor, Izabela. According to Godson, the group was in Kano as part of an exchange program with Bayero University Kano but were apprehended during a protest.
Godson, who is the first black person elected to the Polish Parliament, expressed his concern about the negative publicity the arrest generated.
“The information about their arrest and ordeal is a major news in Poland,” he said. “This is a major embarrassment and portrays Nigeria as an unsafe and unfriendly country for foreigners to visit.”
He highlighted his long-standing efforts to improve relations between Nigeria and Poland, citing his role in facilitating the first-ever visit of a Polish Prime Minister to Nigeria in 2013, which resulted in the signing of significant bilateral agreements.
Godson urged the Nigerian government to ensure a swift resolution to prevent further damage to diplomatic ties between the two nations.
“This incident should have been resolved and settled amicably,” he stated. “Let us now do everything possible for these young people and their professor to go back to their families in Poland as soon as possible.”
