The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has condemned the arrest of 42 Nigerians in Mozambique, describing the development as disturbing and unacceptable.
Dabiri-Erewa called on Mozambican authorities to immediately release the detained Nigerians or formally charge them in court if they have committed any offence.
NiDCOM Boss, in a statement issued in Abuja by the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols of NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, expressed concern that only Nigerians were reportedly singled out during the arrest operation.
According to her, the selective arrest raises serious concerns about possible xenophobic actions against Nigerian citizens.
She said if the affected individuals had violated any laws, the proper step would be to formally arraign them before a court of law rather than detain them without charges.
She added that reports indicated the Nigerians were arrested at a spare parts market, where they were singled out among traders and other individuals present without any explanation or allegation.
The NiDCOM chairman further expressed concern over allegations that some of the arrested Nigerians were beaten, had their personal belongings taken, and are currently in poor health conditions, with several reportedly requiring medical attention.
She therefore urged the Mozambican authorities to respect the rights of Nigerian citizens and ensure that justice and due process are followed.
Dabiri-Erewa reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to protecting the welfare and dignity of its citizens abroad and called for the immediate release of the detained Nigerians if no lawful charges exist.
