The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has issued an urgent condemnation following the arrest and alleged assault of 42 Nigerians in Mozambique. The commission reported on Sunday that the individuals were detained without formal allegations while conducting business at a regional spare parts market.
NiDCOM Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa described the operation as "distasteful", noting that the Nigerians were specifically singled out from among other traders. Reports reaching the commission indicate that the detainees were severely beaten during the arrest, and many have since fallen ill while in custody.
"According to reports, the Nigerians were specifically singled out and arrested at a spare-parts market, out of all the traders and individuals present, without any allegations or explanations as to why they were detained," Dabiri-Erewa stated in a release signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the commission’s Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols.
The commission further alleged that the personal belongings of the arrested citizens were stolen during the raid. Despite the severity of the situation, Mozambique’s Attorney-General is reportedly unaware of any formal charges pending against the group. NiDCOM has confirmed that those in custody are legal residents of the country.
Concerns regarding the motivation behind the arrests have prompted NiDCOM to warn of potential "xenophobic" undertones. Dabiri-Erewa urged Mozambican authorities to either release the detainees immediately or follow transparent legal procedures if any laws were indeed violated.
The Nigerian government is currently seeking diplomatic intervention to ensure the safety and medical care of its citizens. The commission stressed that if the individuals had run afoul of local statutes, they should be formally arraigned and charged before a competent court rather than subjected to extrajudicial physical abuse.