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The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Senator Aniekan Bassey, has condemned in the strongest possible terms the continued and unlawful detention of a Nigerian national, Okey Vitalis Nnorom, also known as Michael, who participated in the Omar Al Mokhtar Flotilla—a humanitarian mission organized in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Senator Bassey described the development as “a grave affront to human rights, international law, and the dignity of the Nigerian nation,” expressing outrage over the deliberate misinformation by the occupation authorities regarding the status of the detained activists. Contrary to earlier reports that Nnorom had been released and handed over to the Nigerian Embassy in Jordan, credible intelligence confirms that he remains in custody alongside three Moroccan nationals, one Algerian, and one Spanish citizen.
The lawmaker condemned the manipulation of facts and concealment of information surrounding the detainees’ condition, saying such actions amount to gross human rights abuse and a blatant display of impunity. He declared that Nigeria will not stand idle while one of its citizens, engaged in a legitimate humanitarian mission, is unjustly detained in violation of global humanitarian norms.
Senator Bassey therefore called on the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to immediately activate every available diplomatic, legal, and international mechanism to secure the unconditional release of Okey Vitalis Nnorom. He stressed that this issue requires a swift, coordinated, and uncompromising diplomatic response, as continued silence or delay would send a dangerous signal that Nigerians abroad can be treated with disregard.
He reaffirmed the Senate’s unwavering commitment to defending the rights, dignity, and safety of all Nigerians in the diaspora, emphasizing that those who embark on humanitarian missions should be honoured, not harassed; protected, not persecuted.
Senator Bassey also appealed to international human rights organizations, the United Nations, global advocacy groups, and all justice-driven institutions to rise in one voice against the unlawful abduction and detention of peaceful activists. He described the act as “a moral outrage and a stain on the conscience of the international community.”
He insisted that the Nigerian government must act decisively and leave no stone unturned in ensuring Nnorom’s immediate freedom. According to him, “the unjust incarceration of a Nigerian citizen engaged in a peaceful humanitarian cause is intolerable and shall not be treated with diplomatic softness.”
Senator Bassey assured that the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs will relentlessly pursue this matter until justice prevails and Okey Vitalis Nnorom is safely released, reaffirming that Nigeria will always defend its citizens wherever they are in the world.
