The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has condemned the reported arrest of 42 Nigerians in Mozambique without formal charges, describing the development as disturbing and unacceptable .
Dabiri-Erewa made the remarks in a statement issued in Abuja by the commission’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun . She expressed concern that the Nigerians were allegedly singled out for arrest among other traders at a spare parts market, despite the presence of traders from other nationalities .
According to her, it was “distasteful” that only Nigerians were reportedly handpicked and detained without any explanation from the authorities .
Dabiri-Erewa said that if any of the arrested individuals had violated the laws of Mozambique, they should be formally charged and arraigned before a competent court of law . She added that the sudden and targeted arrest of the Nigerians raises concerns about a possible xenophobic attack against Nigerian citizens living in the country .
The NiDCOM boss therefore called on Mozambican authorities to either immediately release the detainees or ensure that due legal process is followed .
The arrested individuals were said to be legal residents in Mozambique, while the country’s Attorney-General was reportedly unaware of any charges filed against them . It was also alleged that some of the detainees were assaulted during the operation, with their personal belongings confiscated . Several of them were also said to have fallen ill and are in urgent need of medical attention .
Dabiri-Erewa urged the Mozambican authorities to respect the rights and dignity of Nigerians in the country and ensure that justice and fairness prevail .
