By Peter Omopo
Lagos, Nigeria – July 19, 2025
Nigerian DJ and music creative Rachel Martins has recounted a harrowing experience in the Philippines, accusing immigration authorities of racial profiling, unjust detention, and degrading treatment despite possessing valid travel documents and the intervention of the Nigerian Embassy in Manila.
Martins, who was traveling with her best friend to Manila to attend a sponsored music event by CCMNL, said the ordeal began shortly after arriving at Ninoy Aquino International Airport. According to her, the pair departed Lagos at 3PM on Friday, arrived in Qatar after a 7-hour flight, and then flew nearly 10 hours to Manila, where their troubles began at immigration.
“We greeted the officers politely, but they were cold and unwelcoming. Still, we remained respectful and handed over our passports,” Martins said in a statement.
Despite presenting valid visas, sponsorship letters, return tickets, and evidence of funds, the two were detained, interrogated for hours, and subjected to invasive and humiliating searches. Martins described being escorted to the immigration supervisor’s office without explanation and then held in silence for three hours. When she requested to use the restroom, she said a male officer followed her closely, making her feel like a criminal.
“They questioned everything—from what I do for a living to personal details about our sponsor. Even after offering to call the sponsor, who was already waiting at the airport, they refused any contact,” she recounted.
Martins alleged that more than 30 officers later surrounded them for a search that involved sniffer dogs, multiple cameras, and the inspection of their personal belongings, including underwear and toiletries. “They filmed us throughout. Even when they found nothing, they kept searching. It was terrifying and dehumanizing,” she said.
After nearly five hours, the pair were denied entry without any explanation. “They simply said it was a personal decision. We were physically and emotionally drained. No crime had been committed, yet we were treated like threats,” she said.
Despite desperate efforts by their event sponsor and the Nigerian Embassy, which she said contacted and even visited immigration officials, nothing changed. The two were led to what was described as a lounge but turned out to be a detention-like holding area.
“The room was filled with other Africans, including Nigerians. Some had been detained for days, even months. One man hadn’t seen sunlight in four months,” Martins revealed. “There were cameras everywhere—even in the restrooms.”
She described sleeping on plastic bags and cartons due to the refusal of officials to provide blankets or bedding. “We were freezing. Exhausted. It was heartbreaking,” she said.
Martins claimed that the Embassy continued its efforts until the early hours of the next day. Still, by 2PM, no solution had been found, and the pair were forced to wait for their return flight.
“What makes this even more painful is that our sponsors did everything right. Our embassy did everything right. And still, we were treated as disposable,” she lamented.
Martins expressed outrage over what she believes is a growing trend of mistreatment of Nigerians abroad. In a separate social media post, she questioned why the Philippines would issue visas to Nigerians only to deny them entry and subject them to humiliating treatment.
“If you don’t want Nigerians in your country, then why approve our visas? Why collect our money only to rob us of our dignity?” she asked, tagging the Philippines Bureau of Immigration and Department of Foreign Affairs.
She called on the Nigerian government to urgently address the “systemic and racial” mistreatment of its citizens in foreign countries. “No Black person should ever feel this disposable. This cannot continue. Enough is enough.”
As of the time of reporting, Philippine immigration authorities have not issued an official response to the allegations.
