Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, says citizens are migrating to countries worse than Nigeria, urging them to avoid illegal migration.

In a video shared on X on Wednesday, Ms Dabiri-Erewa appealed to Nigerian influencers and bloggers to help the federal government warn Nigerians against fleeing to “worse” countries.

“Please, we appeal to bloggers and influencers. Help us appeal to Nigerians that where you are running to is worse than where you are running from (Nigeria),” Ms Dabiri-Erewa said.

While reacting to the recent viral video of some Nigerians in Mali prison calling for help, Ms Dabiri-Erewa said some girls in the viral video returned to Mali after the Nigerian government had evacuated them.

“I want to address a viral video of some girls shouting from a prison in Mali, asking to be returned home. Some time ago, the chief of defence staff helped us bring back some girls,” the NiDCOM chief explained. “We have identified some of these girls are some of those brought back that time. That they found themselves back in Mali is shocking.”

She added, “We want to appeal. We need to obey the laws of other countries. Crime and criminality, irregularities migration, is very deadly now. As much as the mission in Mali is working to see if they can bring people back.”