A strong word from the federal government has been fired at Mozambique over the arrest of 42 Nigerians, with the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, condemning the sact, terming the action unacceptable and calling for their swift release.
In a statement issued on Sunday in the Federal Capital Territory, and signed by the Commission’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Dabiri-Erewa vented concern that the Nigerians were allegedly arrested without any formal charges being filed against them.
The NiDCOM boss said, “It was disturbing that only Nigerians were reportedly singled out during the operation”.
Continuing, she said“if any of the individuals had violated Mozambican laws, the appropriate step would be to arraign them before a court of competent jurisdiction rather than detain them without explanation”.
Dabiri-Erewa stated that the alleged selective arrest of Nigerians reflects what could be described as a xenophobic action against Nigerian citizens.
She appealed to the Mozambican authorities to either immediately release the detained Nigerians or follow due legal process by formally charging them in court.
“According to reports, the Nigerians were allegedly picked up at a spare parts market, where they were singled out among other traders and individuals present at the location without any clear allegations or explanations for their arrest.
“Some of the detained Nigerians were beaten, had their personal belongings confiscated, and several of them are currently ill and in need of medical attention,” the Commission alleged.
