The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has raised concern over the arrest and detention of 42 Nigerian nationals in Mozambique, describing the development as disturbing and possibly driven by xenophobic motives.
The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, expressed worry over the incident, noting that the detained Nigerians had not been formally charged with any offence.
Her position was contained in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by the commission’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.
According to Dabiri-Erewa, the Mozambican authorities should either release the Nigerians immediately or subject them to proper legal procedures if they are found to have violated any law.
She described the incident as distasteful, particularly as reports indicated that the operation specifically targeted Nigerians.
The commission said the Nigerians were allegedly arrested during a raid at a spare parts market, while other traders and individuals present at the location were not apprehended.
Witnesses were also said to have alleged that some of the Nigerians were assaulted during the arrest and had their belongings confiscated by the security operatives involved in the raid.
The commission further expressed concern that some of the detainees had reportedly fallen ill in custody and required urgent medical attention.
Dabiri-Erewa noted that the pattern of the arrests suggested that Nigerian nationals were deliberately singled out.
“The sudden and specific arrest of only Nigerians portrays a xenophobic attack on Nigerian citizens,” she said.
She added that preliminary findings by the commission indicated that many of the detained Nigerians were residing legally in Mozambique.
According to her, information available to the commission also suggested that the Mozambican Attorney-General was not aware of any formal charges filed against the detainees.
Dabiri-Erewa urged Mozambican authorities to adhere to international standards governing the treatment of foreign nationals and ensure the protection of the rights of the Nigerians.
She also called for urgent diplomatic engagement to address the situation and guarantee the safety and welfare of Nigerians living in the country.
