By Ebi Kesiena
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has demanded clarification from Mozambican authorities following the arrest of 42 Nigerians in the Southern African country, insisting that due process must be followed in handling the case.
The commission made the demand in a statement issued by its spokesman, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, who said Nigerian authorities were yet to receive an official explanation for the detention of the citizens by Mozambique’s National Criminal Investigation Service, known as Serviço Nacional de Investigação Criminal, SERNIC.
According to the statement, claims by SERNIC that the Nigerians were detained for allegedly staying illegally in the country have not been formally confirmed to Nigerian authorities.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said families of those detained had been reaching out to the commission in distress over the situation and the lack of clear information about their loved ones.
“Their families have been reaching out with distress calls and are worried about the condition of their spouses,” Dabiri-Erewa said.
She further alleged that during the arrest, the detainees had their mobile phones, personal belongings and money confiscated by the authorities.
According to her, the Nigerian High Commission in Mozambique has already written to the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the Office of the Attorney General seeking clarification and access to the detained Nigerians.
Dabiri-Erewa emphasised that if the Nigerians were found to have committed any offence, the Mozambican authorities should formally charge them in a court of law and make the alleged offences public.
“If indeed the Nigerians committed any offence, the authorities should formally charge them to court of law, make the offence public or set them free as against illegally detaining them,” she said.
The NIDCOM boss also reiterated that the Nigerian government does not condone criminal activity by its citizens abroad but stressed that Nigerians must not be subjected to unlawful detention or punishment without due process.
She added that no Nigerian should suffer for an offence they neither committed nor fully understand, urging Mozambican authorities to ensure transparency and fairness in handling the matter.
Meanwhile, the commission said it would continue to engage with relevant authorities until the circumstances surrounding the arrests are clarified and the rights of the detained Nigerians are fully protected.
