… 13 repatriated
By Nkiruka Nnorom
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has condemned the arrest of 42 Nigerians in Mozambique without any offence levelled against them, describing the act as distasteful.
Meanwhile, 13 of them were repatriated to the country late yesterday night via South Africa Airways with flight number SA60.
In a statement in Abuja signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the NIDCOM boss demanded the release of the remaining 29.
She lamented that only Nigerians were allegedly handpicked for arrest and charged tha Mozambican authorities to arraign and the remaining if they run foul of the law.
She said the reported sudden and specific round up of only Nigerians depicts a xenophobic attack on Nigerian citizens and urged the Mozambican authorities to immediately release the arrested Nigerians or allow the law take its course.
According to reports, the Nigerians were specifically singled out and arrested at a spare parts market, out of all the traders and individuals present in the market without any allegations or explanations on why they were detained.
“The Nigerians arrested have been confirmed to be legal residents and the Attorney General is reportedly not aware of any charges against them.
“They were allegedly beaten, their personal belongings stolen, and many of them are said to have fallen sick and in need of medical attention,” Dabiri-Erewa said.
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