The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has urged Mozambican authorities to either formally charge or release 42 Nigerians reportedly held in the country, stressing the need for due process.
In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, the Commission’s spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, said the Mozambican National Criminal Investigation Service had confirmed the detention of the Nigerians but had not provided any official explanation for their arrest.
NIDCOM Chairman and CEO, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the Commission had received several distress calls from families of the detainees, raising concerns about their welfare.
She claimed that personal belongings, including mobile phones and money, were confiscated at the time of arrest.
“Their families have been reaching out with distress calls and are worried about the condition of their spouses,” Dabiri-Erewa said.
“They confiscated their cell phones, personal belongings and money at the time of arrest. The Embassy has written to their Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the office of the Attorney General.”
She added that while the Nigerian government does not condone criminal conduct by its citizens abroad, no Nigerian should be detained without clear information on the alleged offence.
“If indeed the Nigerians committed any offence, the authorities should formally charge them in a court of law, make the offence public, or set them free instead of illegally detaining them,” she said.
The Commission also released the full list of the detainees, which includes Augustine Okeke, Maximus Anayo, Okechukwu Eche, Anaerobi Martins, Stephen Okongwe, Onwujewe Raymond, Chukwunazorom John, Aginam David, Collins Uzoewulu, Okonkwo Johnpaul, and 32 others.
NIDCOM confirmed it would continue engaging with the Nigerian High Commission and Mozambican authorities to ensure the detainees’ safety and fair treatment.
 has urged Mozambican authorities to either formally charge or release 42 Nigerians){kind=link}