In a press release in the capital Lefkoşa, a group from the Nigerian Community (NCNC) in Northern Cyprus emphasized that the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is a safe country and said, “Nigerians are safer in the TRNC than in Northern Nigeria.”

The group unfurled several banners in both Turkish and English: “Nigerians are safer in the TRNC than in Northern Nigeria”, “Stop misinformation about the TRNC”

NCNC President Isaac Ifetoluwa Ajayi stated that they were gathered as the Nigerian Community in Northern Cyprus to inform their country and officials in their country, and also to have the opportunity to tell their families that they are safe in the TRNC.

Ajayi stated that they believe that NiDCOM President Abike Dabiri-Erewa’s statements about the TRNC are due to “misinformation by some students”.

NCNC Lefkoşa Coordinator Daniel Oyelaja also said, “The Nigerian community in Northern Cyprus says ‘no’ to misinformation,” describing the statements of Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission, about the TRNC as “misinformation” and “unnecessary”. “North Cyprus is safer than any part of Africa…We are in safe hands in the TRNC”.

“All Nigerians living in this country and the TRNC deserve an apology from Abike Dabiri for the concern this misinformation has created among our friends and family,” Oyelaja said.