By Nkechi Eze
The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has strongly condemned the arrest of 42 Nigerians in Mozambique, describing the development as disturbing and unacceptable.
In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by the Commission’s spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Dabiri-Erewa expressed concern that the Nigerians were allegedly arrested without any offence being levelled against them. She described the situation as “distasteful,” particularly as reports indicate that only Nigerians were singled out during the operation.
According to her, if the individuals had committed any offence, due process should be followed by arraigning them before a competent court of law rather than subjecting them to arbitrary detention. She warned that the reported selective arrest of Nigerians raises concerns of xenophobia against Nigerian citizens in Mozambique.
The NIDCOM boss therefore urged Mozambican authorities to either release the detained Nigerians immediately or formally charge them in accordance with the law.
Reports indicate that the affected Nigerians were allegedly rounded up at a spare parts market, where they were singled out from other traders and individuals present, without any clear explanation for their detention. Further findings suggest that the arrested persons are legal residents, while the country’s Attorney-General is reportedly unaware of any formal charges against them.
There are also troubling accounts that some of the detainees were subjected to physical assault, had their personal belongings confiscated, and are currently in poor health conditions, with several reportedly requiring urgent medical attention.
Dabiri-Erewa stressed the need for respect for the rights and dignity of Nigerians abroad, reiterating the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting its citizens wherever they may be.
