Arrest of 42 Nigerians: Dabir-Erewa calls for release by Mozambique
BY STEPHEN GBADAMOSI
Worried by the arrest of 42 Nigerians in Mozambique, allegedly without any offenses levelled against them, Chairman/Chief Executive (CEO), Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has condemned such act and demanded for their immediate release.
In a statement by the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, NIDCOM, Abuja, Abdur-Rahman Balogun in Abuja, the NIDCOM boss said that it was distasteful to learn that only Nigerians were allegedly handpicked for arrest.
She said if they ran foul of the law, the authorities should arraign and charge them before a court of law, adding that the reported sudden and specific round up of only Nigerians depicted a xenophobic attack on Nigerian citizens.
Dabiri-Erewa, therefore, urged the Mozambican authorities to immediately release the arrested Nigerians or let the law take its course.
According to reports, the Nigerians were specifically singled out and arrested at a spare parts market, out of all the traders and individuals present in the market without any allegations or explanations on why they were detained.
The Nigerians arrested had been confirmed to be legal residents and the attorney-general was reportedly not aware of any charges against them.
They were allegedly beaten; their personal belongings stolen, and many of them were said to have fallen sick and in need of medical attention.
