Yesterday, the Polish government pleaded with Nigeria for the release of the seven Poles who were arrested in Kano for allegedly raising the Russian flag during the recent hunger protest in that city.
Deputy foreign minister Jakub Wisniewski met with Nigeria´s charge d´affaires in Warsaw where he made a case for the release of the arrested persons – a lecturer and six students.
They had come from Warsaw University to take part in a Hausa language programme.
“During the meeting, I conveyed that I was convinced that the students´ behavior could have resulted from their ignorance of local customs, culture and laws.
“I appealed for the possibility of their return to Poland, to their homes, where their families are waiting for them,” Wisniewski said.
But Wisniewski refused to believe that the students carried Russian flags apparently because of rare pro-Russian sentiment in his country.
The Central European country has bad memories of suffering under Russian rule in the past and the citizens are deeply critical of what they see as Russian aggression in Ukraine.
Wisniewski said the seven Poles were taken to Abuja and are safe.
Poland´s consul was scheduled to meet with them yesterday afternoon.
