NiDCOM Says Nigerian Girls Detained In Mauritius Have Been Released

Nigerian girls detained by immigration authorities in Mauritius have been released and are on their way back to Nairobi, according to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission.

The confirmation came on Monday after public concern over a video alleging that the travellers had been held at a Mauritian airport since July 31, 2026. Punch and Vanguard both reported that NiDCOM said its digital media unit announced the release and that the agency was pursuing the matter through Nigeria’s diplomatic channel.

NiDCOM said its chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, was engaging the Nigerian embassy, which had formally taken up the case with authorities in Mauritius. The commission said the engagement was aimed at accountability and avoiding a repeat of the incident.

The travellers’ identities were not disclosed in the reports. Punch said NiDCOM did not state the circumstances that led to the detention or when the girls were expected to arrive in Nairobi or Nigeria.

Vanguard reported that the detention claim first drew attention after a social media user alleged that the girls were asked to sign a document without being told what it contained. The same account alleged that one of the women became ill after prolonged stress while in custody.

Neither NiDCOM nor the Nigerian embassy gave a detailed explanation of why the girls were held. Mauritian authorities had also not publicly commented on the allegations at the time the reports were filed.

Sources: Punch, Vanguard