Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, has demanded that justice must be served in the sudden death of a 25-year-old Nigerian student in Northern Cyprus, Ibrahim Khaleel Bello, and others killed in such circumstances in the country.
Dabiri-Erewa made the position of the Federal Government known on Monday.
She spoke following a petition by 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 via Mersin 10, Turkey in Abuja.
Dabiri-Erewa called on parents to be weary of sending their wards to Northern Cyprus as the country is not recognised by the United Nations except the Republic of Turkey, adding that Nigeria has no diplomatic ties with that country.
She insisted that the Country should be blacklisted given the 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, adding: “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 appeal to Nigerian parents to desist from sending their children to Northern Cyprus for 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 advice 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 and Minister of Justice has already reported the matter to Interpol for further investigation.
Earlier in an emotion-laden voice, Justice Bello 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 to 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: “Mama, Please I want to come back home.
