House Investigates Maltreatment of Nigerians at Togo Airport

Udora Orizu in Abuja

The House of Representatives has mandated its Committees on Foreign Affairs, National Security and Intelligence to liaise with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to investigate the viral video showing how Nigerian travellers coming from the United States of America and transiting at Eyadema International Airport, Togo were humiliated and maltreated by Togolese security personnel.

The resolution of the lawmakers was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by the Minority Leader, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu (PDP, Delta).

Moving the motion, Elumelu recalled that on Saturday, December 18, 2021, a video surfaced on the social media where some Nigerian travellers who transited at the Gnassingbe Eyadema International Airport were seriously brutalized, maltreated and humiliated by men of the Togolese security personnel.

He noted that the Nigerians were travelling on Ethiopian Airlines from the United States of America to Lagos only to get to Lome on transit and were told that their connecting flight was full and therefore, could not continue the trip.

He said the House is aware that this infuriated the Nigerian travellers, when some of them tried to protest to the management of the airlines, they were brutalized, rough handled and shackled by Togolese security personnel for trying to claim their rights and speak against the incompetence of the airlines.

Elumelu said the House is also aware that after the humiliation and intimidation, the travellers were left stranded at the airport with the option of finding their way down to Lagos at their own cost.

He said instead of the security personnel to aide the passengers in getting back to their desired destination, which was fully booked for and confirmed by the airline, they decided to brutalize and humiliate the passengers and by extension, disregarding Nigeria as a country.

He worries that if this action is left unquestioned, it will give security personnel in other countries the impetus to treat Nigerian travellers with disdain, disrespect and further brutalization, hence the need for an urgent investigation.

The lawmaker added that this assault meted out to innocent Nigerian travellers who were not accused of breaching any known law or commiting any crime, is barbaric, inhumane and totally unacceptable and against international best practices.

Adopting the motion, the House directed the committees to investigate the matter and report back as soon as possible.