Reverend Dr. Israel Kristilere, President of the Christian Tourism Practitioners’ Association of Nigeria (CTPAN), has condemned the actions of Egyptian police following an incident at Cairo International Airport on April 30, 2024.
Kristilere, who also leads Oasis of Faith Intercontinental Ltd, a private Christian pilgrimage company, and serves as Senior Pastor of Shepherdhill Baptist Church in Obanikoro, Lagos, was traveling with 28 pilgrims to Amman on an Egypt Air flight from Lagos.
During a 4-hour layover in Cairo, Kristilere was unexpectedly summoned by the police.
He was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at the airport, an allegation he firmly denies, stating he had never seen the woman before. Despite his innocence, he complied with the police’s request to apologize.
He said: “He told the lady that he did not know her, and if it was a missing identity, he was sorry, but he did not commit the offence.”
It was learnt that they offered a solution and told him to sign a document in Arabic but he insisted on having the document translated into English.
However, the desk manager of the airport was said to have ordered them to release him.
He added that on getting to the aircraft, he discovered that all the co-travellers refused to enter the plane, leading to his speedy release from the officers.
Dr. Kristilere expressed that he is speaking out against the Egyptian police because their unruly behaviour caused him significant trauma.
He pointed out that this incident is part of a broader pattern of misconduct at various airports across Africa.
Kristilere emphasized the need to alert the Nigerian government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), and travellers about the potential dangers posed by the Egyptian police.
