Dare Babalola
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has released the identity of 42 Nigerians beaten up and detained with their shops also looted in Mozambique without any offenses levelled against them.
In a statement by the Commission’s Spokesman, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, on Thursday, the 42 detainees are all male.
Balogun identified the detainees as: Augustine Chukwuka Okeke, Maximus Anayo, Okechukwu Benjamin Eche, Anaerobi Ikenna Martins, Stephen Anayo Okongwe, Onwujewe Raymond, Chukwunazor0m Donatus John, Aginam Chukwuenyem David, Collins Aderito Uzoewulu, Okonkwo Nnamdi Johnpaul, Onwunyili Lawrenc Chukwuemeka, Ugochukwu Valentine Ezechiedum, Nnamdi Okechukwu, Celestine Okalu, Goodluck Chukwunyere Ephraim, Ebuka Amuh Pablo, Chukwuemeka Steven Ugwu, Cislouyindika Ifeanyi Ezeifeoma, Chinedu Daniel Igwilo, Ideh Samuel Ezinwa, and Ogochukwu Michael Okonkwo.
Others are: Okechukwu Christopher, Chinedu Okeke, Chukwuebuka Tobechukwu Oraka, Simon Nnaemeka, Onyeka Emmanuel Ufondo, Chidera Christopher, Nzube Kingsley Ebere, Ekene Samuel Nwana, Christian Emeka Muoka, Gerald Emeka Godwin, Ogu Inyang, Oluebubechukwu Victor Maduka, Onyedika Kingsley, Donatus Uchi, Chinecherem Alu, Emmanuel Anene Ugwu, Muoneke Mateus, Martin Tochukwu Mbakwe, Ikechukwu Nwali, Lotanna Okeke, Emeka Henry Ekenta
The statement also demanded for the official reasons for their detention, noting that even the Nigerian High Commission has not been notified officially.
“Their families have been reaching out with distress calls and are worried about the condition of their spouses,” Balogun quoted Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, NiDCOM to have said.
Dabiri-Erewa added that “they confiscated their cell phones, personal belongings and money with them as at the time of arrest. The Embassy has written to their Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the office of the Attorney General”.
According to her, the authorities should formally charge the detainees to court of law, make their offence public or set them free as against illegally detaining them.
She stressed that the Nigerian government would not support any crime committed by any Nigerian in any country while stressing that no Nigerian should suffer for an offence they neither committed nor know the reason they are being detained.
