The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has demanded the immediate release of 42 Nigerian citizens recently arrested at a spare parts market in Mozambique, describing the incident as a suspected "xenophobic attack."
In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, NIDCOM Chairman and CEO Abike Dabiri-Erewa expressed deep concern over the development, particularly as no specific offences have reportedly been levelled against the detained Nigerians.
The commission's Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, signed the statement conveying Dabiri-Erewa's strong reaction to the arrests. She described the detention as "distasteful" and alleged that Nigerians were singled out for arrest while other traders and individuals present at the market were left untouched.
"If they run afoul of the law, the authorities should arraign and charge them before a court of law," Dabiri-Erewa stated, emphasizing that due process must be followed.
According to the commission, the reported selective arrest of Nigerians strongly suggests a xenophobic motive. Dabiri-Erewa urged Mozambican authorities to either release the detainees immediately or ensure that proper legal procedures are followed.
The statement revealed that the arrested Nigerians have been confirmed to be legal residents of Mozambique. Disturbingly, the country's attorney general was reportedly unaware of any charges filed against them, raising questions about the legality of their continued detention.
The commission also alleged that some of the detainees were beaten during the operation and had their personal belongings confiscated. Several of them have reportedly fallen ill and require urgent medical attention, compounding concerns about their welfare while in custody.
Dabiri-Erewa called on authorities in Mozambique to address the situation urgently and ensure the safety and rights of the affected Nigerians are protected.
This incident adds to a troubling pattern of suspected xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in parts of Southern Africa. In 2019, members of the Nigerian community in South Africa were attacked during a wave of xenophobic violence that drew international condemnation.
Those attacks sparked retaliatory actions against some South African businesses in Nigeria and led to a diplomatic row between the two countries. At the height of the crisis, South Africa temporarily closed its diplomatic missions in Nigeria following reprisals by Nigerians angered by the xenophobic attacks.
The NIDCOM chief's forceful response signals that Nigeria expects its citizens abroad to be treated with dignity and according to international legal standards. The commission is likely to engage further with Mozambican authorities through diplomatic channels to secure the release of the detained Nigerians or ensure they face proper legal proceedings if genuine offences exist.
As the situation develops, families of the detained individuals await news of their loved ones' fate, hoping for swift intervention from both Nigerian and Mozambican authorities.
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