Avoid Northern Cyprus Universities- NIDCOM Warns Students
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission
(NIDCOM) has demanded that justice must be served accordingly on the
sudden death of a 25-year old Nigerian student in Northern Cyprus, Mr
Ibrahim Khaleel Bello and others killed in such mysterious circumstances
in the country.
She made this passionate plea following a petition by Hon. Justice Amina
Ahmad Bello, a Judge in Kaduna state High Court on the mysterious and ,
inexplicable death of her son, a third-year Civil Engineering Degree
student of Girne American University in Girne (Kyrenia), Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus ( TRNC) via Mersin 10, Turkey in Abuja on
Monday.
Dabiri-Erewa called on parents to be wary of sending their wards to
Northern Cyprus as the country is not recognized by the United Nations
except the Republic of Turkey, adding that Nigeria has no diplomatic
ties with that country.
preponderance of Nigerian Students who have died mysteriously in that
country without any prosecution or compensation whatsoever.
She assured the delegation led by Justice Bello, that NIDCOM will work
with the Ministry of Justice, Nigerian Mission in Turkey and other
relevant agencies to ensure justice is done, saying “ the death of
Ibrahim khaleel Bello should be a tipping point to end the continuous
killings of Nigerian students in that country.”
Dabiri-Erewa reiterated her appeals to Nigerian parents to desist in
sending their children to Northern Cyprus for any studies as most of the
courses are not accredited and they end up killing the children., many
of them unreported.
” The time has come for us to blacklist all these Universities in
Northern Cyprus and advise our students from seeking any form of
admission there as it portends danger to their life and future”, she
said.
She added that the office of the Attorney General of the Federation has
already reported the matter to Interpol for further investigation.
Earlier in an emotion-laden voice, Justice Amina Ahmad Bello, mother of
the deceased, said her insistence on justice was not only for her son
but also other Nigerian Students who have died mysteriously in the Girne
American University Girne (Kyrenia), and other Universities in Northern
Cyprus.
She narrated how her son was allegedly murdered and covered up by the
authorities in Northern Cyprus as well as the University authorities
claiming it was a suicide mission having fallen from a seven-storey
building.
She insisted that the report be investigated and all those found
culpable be prosecuted as there was nothing to show that her son
committed suicide.
Justice Bello said hours before her son was killed, she spoke with him,
and he was expressing fears on his safety in the University environment.
” I don’t believe it was an accident or a suicide as i went to Cyprus
barely 24 hours it happened and got to the mortuary where there was no
scratch or wound on his body.
” I suspected foul play that my son was killed as the school was non-
challant in breaking the news to me on my arrival there”
Justice Bello said hours before the boy died, he sent her a WhatsApp
message that ” Mama, Please I want to come back home. Wallahi if i stay
here, I will just die here without anybody batting an eyelash. I just
need to come back home. Mama please try to understand that this isn’t a
place for me”.
She alleged that it is possible some of the killed Nigerian students
vital organs were harvested as her son’s stomach was opened and sutured
when the corpse was finally released
The late Ibrahim Khaleel Bello was among about 100 Nigerians killed and
murdered in mysterious circumstances from 2016 to 2020 without
prosecuting any of the assailants.
Other victims include, Kennedy Taomwabwa Dede, 28, student of Eastern
Mediterranean University and was killed on Feb. 1, 2018, Walshak
Augustine Ngok, a student of Marine Engineering at Near East
University, murdered on April 19, 2019.
Others were Gabriel Soriwei, a first-year student of Electrical
Electronics of Cyprus International University, Nicosia, Osabanjo
Adeola Owoyale, 33, went missing and found dead on July 1, 2019.
The list include Augustine Wallies killed on April 19, 2019, Stanley
Eteimo, 28 years, Hassan Babatunde, 28, murdered, Temitayo Adigun,
killed, Kubiat Abasi Abraham Okon, 24, killed, Oziegbe Gospower
Airekugose and Olasubomi Ope among others not reported.
