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Drug Trafficking: NANSE confirms 50 Nigerian students in Police custody in Cyprus

Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, Honourable Minister for Foreign Affairs

*A local news outlet in Cyprus earlier had reported that most African students, who enroll in universities in the foreign country, engage in crimes including illicit drugs, violence and theft

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

For their alleged drugs-related crimes, illegal clubbing and prostitution, the National Association of Nigerian Students in Europe (NANSE) has affirmed the authorities’ arrest of 50 Nigerian students in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Bashiru Saidu Muhammad, President of NANSE, who while stated this in a chat with reporters Wednesday, March 22, 2023, in Nigeria,  said that the Senate President of the students’ group had been detailed to find out the details of the issues involved.

It is recalled that a local news outlet in Cyprus recently reported that the Police in Northern Cyprus apprehended the Nigerian students in the country in a three-bedroom apartment rented and supposedly occupied by three Nigerian women in the Hamitköy region of Lefkosa, Northern Cyprus.

Muhammad said: “I can confirm to you that 50 of our students in Northern Cyprus have been arrested by the Police for alleged drugs-related crimes, illegal clubbing and prostitution.

“I am currently in Nigeria, but our Senate President (of NANSE) was detailed to find out, and he has confirmed the arrests.”

He also disclosed that NANSE is currently studying the matter to see the possibility of our intervention.

“While we expect the Nigerian authorities to also act in view of the country’s diplomatic relations with Cyprus, we will also be willing to work with the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) on what could be done.”

It was learnt Cyprusnews247 had reported that most African students who enroll in Cyprus universities, engage in crimes including illicit drugs, violence, and theft.

The new medium Thursday also reported that loud voices were heard from an apartment rented by three Nigerian women in the Hamitköy region of Lefkosa in Cyprus.

The citizens resident in the area had warned the Police about ‘prostitution and drugs’, and that they had been unable to sleep for months because of noise emanating from the three-bedroom apartment.

During the arrest, however, over 50 Nigerians came out of the flat where the Police raided instead of the three people who rented the apartment, report noted.

It was also gathered the three police officers that went to the scene had difficulty in collecting over 50 Nigerians from the apartment which they had reportedly turned into a club for social activities.

A resident of the affected reportedly said: “We have all been devastated for months.

“We were unable to sleep, and we often did not get a response to our complaints.”

The citizen also wondered “if more than 50 people leave a small apartment, it is not difficult to understand what kind of business is going on here. “Our government should take this issue seriously and find a solution.

“Believe me, we are considering leaving the country in the face of this situation.”

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