Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama presented Letters of Credence to Ambassador Olukayode Olugbenga Aluko, Nigeria’s Ambassador‑Designate to the Republic of Benin, on 11 October 2022. Since taking up his post, Ambassador Aluko has observed that many Nigerians who are repatriated from Benin eventually return to the neighboring country. He notes that a number of commercial sex workers and “yahoo boys” (Internet fraudsters) operating in Benin are of Nigerian nationality.
In an interview on Sunday, Aluko partially addressed the “japa” trend, explaining that Beninese authorities arrest tens of Nigerians daily, including young girls as young as 13, 14 and 19 years old who are involved in prostitution. He said the embassy works to secure the release of those detained, but many become a burden on the mission. “We try to find a way to send them back to Nigeria,” he said, adding that while host authorities cooperate in repatriations, some individuals return to Benin and resume the same activities.
The ambassador emphasized that most Nigerians arrested for crimes such as fraud are provided legal assistance, whereas innocent Nigerians are often released. He expressed embarrassment over the situation, noting that an average of 25 Nigerians are arrested each day for cyber‑fraud related offenses, which tarnishes the reputation of law‑abiding citizens. Aluko warned that the ECOWAS policy allowing free movement for 90 days should not be abused to facilitate criminal activity.
Aluko’s comments came after the arrest of Okail Shedrack, a Nigerian student at Cyprus International University, who was detained in Porto‑Novo, Benin, on 7 February 2023 on suspicion of involvement in cyber fraud. A translated French document obtained by our correspondent indicated that Shedrack faced charges related to cyber‑crime. Despite these incidents, the ambassador affirmed that Beninese residents generally coexist peacefully with Nigerians and that Benin’s economy remains largely dependent on Nigeria.
Comments are closed for this story.