ABUJA — The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has condemned the arrest of 42 Nigerians in Mozambique, describing the action as disturbing and calling for their immediate release.
Dabiri-Erewa expressed concern that the Nigerians were allegedly arrested without any offences being levelled against them, noting that the development was troubling and unacceptable.
In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols at NIDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the NIDCOM boss said it was distasteful to learn that only Nigerians were reportedly singled out for arrest.
She maintained that if the affected individuals had run foul of the law, the Mozambican authorities should formally arraign and charge them before a court of law.
According to her, the reported sudden and targeted roundup of only Nigerians depicts what appears to be a xenophobic attack on Nigerian citizens living in the country.
Dabiri-Erewa therefore urged the Mozambican authorities to either immediately release the detained Nigerians or allow due legal process to take its course.
Reports indicate that the Nigerians were allegedly singled out and arrested at a spare parts market despite the presence of traders and other individuals from different nationalities, without any explanation for their detention.
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The detained individuals are said to be legal residents of Mozambique, while the country’s Attorney-General was reportedly not aware of any charges filed against them.
Some of the arrested Nigerians were allegedly beaten during the operation, with their personal belongings reportedly taken. Many of them are also said to have fallen ill and are in need of urgent medical attention.
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