The Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has criticised the arrest of 42 Nigerians in Mozambique.
Ms Dabiri-Erewa, in a post on X, described the incident as troubling and called on the authorities to release the detainees immediately.
“I am deeply concerned about the arrest of 42 Nigerians in Mozambique without any charges. I strongly condemn this development and call for their immediate release or that they be properly charged in accordance with the law,” she wrote.
According to a statement released by the commission on Sunday, the Nigerians were reportedly singled out and arrested at a market without any explanation for their detention.
The agency said the affected individuals, who are said to be legal residents in Mozambique, were picked up at a spare parts market without being told why they were being detained.
NiDCOM, however, did not disclose the name of the market or reveal the identities of the detained Nigerians.
“They were allegedly beaten, their personal belongings stolen, and many of them are said to have fallen sick and in need of medical attention,” the statement read.
Ms Dabiri-Erewa also suggested that the targeted arrest of Nigerians raised concerns about xenophobia against Nigerian nationals.
She urged the Mozambican authorities to either free the detained Nigerians or follow due legal process.
“If they run afoul of the law, the authorities should arraign and charge them before a court of law,” she said.
The commission further stated that it found it “distasteful” that Nigerians were allegedly the only group arrested during the operation, despite the presence of traders from other countries in the same market.
“Our citizens deserve to be treated with dignity and fairness wherever they are. I urge the Mozambican authorities to do the right thing and ensure justice is served,” Ms Dabiri-Erewa added.
