The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has confirmed that 40 out of 42 Nigerians who were arrested and held for several weeks in Mozambique have now been deported back to Nigeria.
The Commission also addressed reports of alleged attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, urging members of the Nigerian community there to remain calm while investigations continue.
Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the situation surrounding the reported violence during a cultural celebration may have stemmed from misunderstandings. She noted that the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa is already looking into the matter and appealed to all parties to avoid escalating tensions.
Regarding the deportees from Mozambique, the Nigerians were returned to the country in three separate batches. They arrived on March 24, 26 and 27 aboard flights operated by South African Airways and Ethiopian Airlines, with groups of 13, 16 and 11 respectively. Two of the detainees, however, remain in Mozambique.
NiDCOM said the deportation process did not follow proper procedures.
In a statement, the Commission’s spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, described the situation as inhumane and a violation of the victims’ rights. According to him, the Nigerians were randomly arrested, detained and eventually deported despite presenting valid residency documents.
While Mozambican authorities reportedly cited immigration-related issues as the reason for the arrests, documents provided by the affected Nigerians suggested otherwise.
Some of the deportees, who were received by NiDCOM officials in Lagos, alleged that cash and other valuables seized during their detention were never returned. Others also claimed that large sums of money were withdrawn from their mobile banking apps while they were in custody.
NiDCOM also expressed concern that Mozambican officials failed to inform the Nigerian Embassy about the arrests. According to the Commission, attempts by embassy representatives to intervene were reportedly ignored.
The 42 Nigerians were said to have been picked up from their various business locations even though many of them held valid residency permits. Several of the affected individuals insisted they had complied with all legal requirements to live and work in the country.
They further alleged that they were detained for days before being processed for deportation.
Of the two Nigerians who were not deported, one is married to a Mozambican citizen while the other was born in the country.
As of now, Mozambican authorities have not released an official statement addressing the incident. The development, however, is already raising fresh concerns about the treatment of foreign nationals and how immigration rules are enforced in the country.
List Of Detainees
S/N NAMES SEX
1. AUGUSTINE CHUKWUKA OKEKE “M”
2. MAXIMUS ANAYO “M”
3. OKECHUKWU BENJAMIN ECHE “M”
4. ANAEROBI IKENNA MARTINS “M”
5. STEPHEN ANAYO OKONGWE “M”
6. ONWUJEWE RAYMOND “M”
7. CHUKWUNAZOR0M DONATUS JOHN “M”
8. AGINAM CHUKWUENYEM DAVID “M”
9. COLLINS ADERITO UZOEWULU “M”
10. OKONKWO NNAMDI JOHNPAUL “M”
11. ONWUNYILI LAWRENCE CHUKWUEMEKA “M”
12. UGOCHUKWU VALENTINE EZECHIEDUM “M”
13 . NNAMDI OKECHUKWU “M”
14. CELESTINE OKALU “M”
15 . GOODLUCK CHUKWUNYERE EPHRAIN “M”
16. EBUKA AMUH PABLO “M”
17. CHUKWUEMEKA STEVEN UGWU “M”
18. CISLOUYINDIKA IFEANYI EZEIFEOMA “M”
19 . CHINEDU DANIEL IGWILO “M”
20. IDEH SAMUEL EZINWA “M”
21. OGOCHUKWU MICHAEL OKONKWOR “M”
22. OKECHUKWU CHRISTOPHER “M”
23 . CHINEDU OKEKE “M”
24. CHUKWUEBUKA TOBECHUKWU ORAKA “M”
25 . SIMON NNAEMEKA “M”
26. ONYEKA EMMANUEL UFONDO “M”
27. CHIDERA CHRISTOPHER “M”
28. NZUBE KINGSLEY EBERE “M”
29. EKENE SAMUEL NWANA “M”
30. CHRISTIAN EMEKA MUOKA “M”
31. GERALD EMEKA GODWIN “M”
32 . OGU INYANG “M”
33. OLUEBUBECHUKWU VICTOR MADUKA “M”
34 . ONYEDIKA KINGSLEY “M”
35. DONATUS UCHI “M”
36. CHINECHEREM ALU “M”
37. EMMANUEL ANENE UGWU “M”
38 . MUONEKE MATEUS “M”
39 . MARTIN TOCHUKWU MBAKWE “M”
40. IKECHUKWU NWALI “M”
41. LOTANNA OKEKE “M”
42. EMEKA HENRY EKENTA
