The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has condemned the arrest and detention of 42 Nigerians in Mozambique, describing the incident as unjust and a possible case of xenophobic targeting.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, expressed concern over the development, noting that no offence had been formally levelled against the detained Nigerians.
In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by the commission’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Dabiri-
Erewa called on Mozambican authorities to release the Nigerians immediately or subject them to due legal process if any law had been violated.
She described the incident as “distasteful,” particularly as reports indicated that only Nigerians were singled out during the operation.
According to the commission, the Nigerians were allegedly rounded up during a raid at a spare parts market, while other traders and individuals present at the location were left untouched.
Witness accounts further alleged that the detained Nigerians were beaten during the arrest and had their personal belongings taken by the operatives involved in the raid.
The commission also raised alarm that several of the detainees had reportedly fallen ill while in detention and were in urgent need of medical attention.
Dabiri-Erewa said the pattern of the arrests suggested a targeted action against Nigerian nationals.
“The reported sudden and specific roundup of only Nigerians depicts a xenophobic attack on Nigerian citizens,” the statement read.
She added that preliminary information available to the commission indicated that the Nigerians involved were legal residents in Mozambique.
According to her, the Attorney-General in Mozambique was reportedly unaware of any formal charges against the detained Nigerians.
The NIDCOM boss urged Mozambican authorities to respect international standards on the treatment of foreign nationals and ensure that the rights of the Nigerians are protected.
She also called for immediate diplomatic engagement to resolve the matter and safeguard the welfare of Nigerians residing in the country.
The incident has sparked outrage among Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora, with growing calls for stronger diplomatic action to protect Nigerian citizens abroad.
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