The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has confirmed the deportation of 40 Nigerians out of 42 arrested and locked up for weeks in Mozambique, declaring that their deportation did not follow due process.
This was contained in a press release on Tuesday by NiDCOM Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.
The 40 deportees arrived in Nigeria in three batches of 13, 16 and 11, respectively, aboard a South African Airways flight, SA60 and Ethiopian Airline on March 24, 26 and 27, with two of them remaining in Mozambique.
NiDCOM stated in the release that such an act displayed by the authorities in Mozambique was inhuman and a violation of the human rights of the 40 Nigerians.
The Commission stated that the deportees were randomly arrested, detained and deported, despite having proper documentation.
This was as the Mozambique authorities, however, claimed that what it did was immigration enforcement operations in the capital, Maputo.
Of the two Nigerians left behind, one is married to a Mozambique citizen, while the second one was born in the country.
It was learnt that all the money taken from the Nigerian deportees while in detention were not given back to them upon deportation, while huge sums were also withdrawn from their Mobile App.
“It is saddening that while all of these were going on, the Mozambique authorities did not reach out to the Nigeria Embassy, while all emissaries from the Embassy were rebuffed.
“It would be recalled that the 42 Nigerians were arrested at their various business locations despite possessing valid residency documents.
“Some of those affected alleged that the arrests were carried out without prior notice, insisting they had complied with all legal requirements to live and work in Mozambique.
“They further claimed they were detained for several days before being processed for deportation,” the Commission stated in the release.
While the authorities in Mozambique are yet to issue an official statement on the incident, NiDCOM noted that the development may likely raise fresh concerns over the treatment of foreign nationals and the enforcement of immigration regulations in the country.
