FG seeks prosecution of culprits over attacks on Nigerian students in India. cc @DrJoeAbah

Nigerian students attacked in India

The Nigerian government has called on its Indian counterpart to ensure immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible for attacks of Nigerian students in Indian university.

Some Nigerian students were attacked in Greater Noida part of the country by irate mob, leading to nine of the students sustaining injuries. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaye, who spoke on behalf of the ministry, yesterday called for instant measures to forestall future occurrences.

Enikanolaye, who said such incidents should not be allowed to stand between both countries, stated that quick condemnation would amount to nothing if the culprits were not accordingly dealt with.

He, therefore, called on the government of India to arrest and diligently prosecute those involved in the attacks to serve as deterrent to others who would want to take laws into their hands.

In his response, the Indian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Nagabhushana Reddy, described the incident as deplorable, adding that the Indian Minister of External Affairs had already issued a statement condemning the incident.

He, therefore, assured foreigners in the country of their safety. “The government is determined to see that justice is done,” the high commissioner stated.

Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has urged Nigerians in India to remain calm and be watchful of their surroundings.

Dabiri-Erewa in a statement in Abuja yesterday, who condemned the mob action as unwarranted and deplorable, commended India for immediate and prompt action and the arrest of five suspects.

In another development, the Senate yesterday said it would investigate alleged planned mass removal of 12,000 Nigerians in Germany. The Upper Legislative Chamber said it would explore on behalf of the helpless Nigerians the means to assess the European and German funds for skills and capacity building for foreigners in Germany.

It also urged the Federal Government to lend support to the Senate’s push to elicit commitment from Germany and to assist the Nigerian Army with more equipment to consolidate on the fight against Boko Haram in the North-East.

Adopting the recommendations of the report of the official visit of Senate President Bukola Saraki to Berlin at the invitation of the President of the Bundesrat (Federal Council of Germany), Malu Dreyer, the Senate also resolved to set up a Nigeria-Germany parliamentary friendship group.

The visit to the Bundesrat, which is the equivalent of the Nigerian Senate, held between March 8 and 10, 2017.


(THE GUARDIAN)