Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has emphasized the need for Nigerians traveling abroad to exercise caution to avoid adverse situations. This advice followed the maltreatment of Rev. Dr. Israel Kristilere at Cairo Airport.
In a statement released on Thursday by Gabriel Odu, head of the media, public relations, and protocols unit at NiDCOM, Dabiri-Erewa’s advisory came during a visit by Rev. Dr. Kristilere. Kristilere, CEO of Oasis of Faith Intercontinental Limited and President of the Christian Tourism Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CTPAN), recounted his ordeal during a layover in Cairo on his pilgrimage to Israel.
On April 30, 2024, Rev. Kristilere and 27 pilgrims were en route to Israel and had a four-hour layover in Cairo. While resting in the lounge, Kristilere noticed boarding had begun but his group was still seated. Upon inquiry, he was told to wait. Later, when he attempted to board, he was detained by airport security over false accusations of sexual abuse, based on a complaint and a supposed video he was not allowed to see.
To avoid court proceedings, Kristilere was forced to apologize to the alleged victim, expressing sympathy if someone else had abused her and she mistook him for the person. He documented his refusal to sign an Arabic document by writing “I DO NOT KNOW” above his surname and recorded the encounter’s audio on his phone.
The intervention of the desk manager led to the return of Kristilere’s passport and his release. On May 1, around 1 a.m., Kristilere and the 27 pilgrims, who had refused to board without him, finally departed Cairo.
Reacting to the incident, Dabiri-Erewa, represented by the Secretary to the Commission, Dr. Sule Yakubu Bassi, assured that NiDCOM would bring Kristilere’s petition to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Embassy in Egypt for investigation. She apologized for the maltreatment Kristilere endured, stressing that no Nigerian should face inhumane treatment abroad.
Dabiri-Erewa commended Kristilere for securing support from the Christian Pilgrims Commission and encouraged him to forward relevant documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Egyptian Embassy. She assured that NiDCOM will continue to advocate for the dignified and humane treatment of Nigerians worldwide, the statement added.
