Cape Verde Faces Accusations of Human Rights Violations After Detention of Nigerian Tourist
Nigerian tourist Oghenero Adaware has accused Cape Verde of violating his human rights after he and four friends were detained and deported without explanation when they arrived in Sal. Adaware claims that they were racially profiled, physically assaulted and deprived of basic necessities during their detention.
In a report published in the Nigerian newspaper The Daily Times, Nigerian software engineer Oghenero Adaware accused Cape Verdean authorities of violating his basic human rights after he and four friends were detained and deported without explanation upon their arrival in Sal, Cape Verde. Adaware, who traveled with friends for a two-week vacation, reported being forcibly removed from the airport, detained without reason and deprived of basic necessities, medication and access to a lawyer.
According to Adaware, the ordeal began immediately upon arrival on April 13, 2025. The group was targeted by immigration officer Antonio Lima, who demanded to know how much money they were carrying. Despite presenting more than $3,000 USD in cash and proof of additional funds, the group was detained and forced to board a flight back to Senegal without any official explanation.
Adaware detailed the harrowing experience, claiming that group member Abimbola was physically assaulted by police, who tore her shirt while dragging her into a detention room. Adaware himself was pressured to falsely incriminate one of his friends as a drug dealer, a request he refused. Despite presenting return tickets, a full itinerary and sufficient funds, he and his companions were held in a small, windowless room, deprived of basic necessities and without access to a lawyer.
"What happened to us in Cape Verde was not immigration enforcement; it was targeted humiliation," said Adaware. "We were profiled, arrested and treated like criminals for daring to travel as Nigerians."
Despite being deported on the vague charge of "incomplete or invalid documents", Adaware claims that his group complied with all entry requirements, providing valid travel documents and proof of funds. The incident has sparked outrage, with calls for Cape Verdean authorities to investigate allegations of racial profiling and mistreatment of Nigerian tourists.
