Officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Botswana have confirmed arrest and detention of 41 Nigerians for allegedly violating the country’s immigration law as several of them are to be deported soon.
The officials, however, said the arrest was illegal and a gross violation of international convention which gave those with genuine permits the right to reside in the Southern African country.
According to Mrs. Victoria Ojeka-Eje, Minister/Acting Nigerian High Commissioner in the country, 18 of the 41 Nigerians arrested in several raids conducted by security agencies last week had been released though their passports were still being held by the authorities.
She said seven other Nigerians were transferred elsewhere awaiting deportation, while 16 persons were still in detention, even as the crackdown on Nigerian citizens had continued.
Speaking to Vanguard, yesterday. Mrs Obka, who is standing in for the High Commissioner, Mr. O. C. Cocodia, currently on home leave, said no official explanation had been given regarding the ongoing crackdown on Nigerians.
It was gathered that the government of Botswana had between last Thursday and weekend arrested and detained about 50 Nigerians but no official reason was given for the crackdown.
The security agents, who carried out the raid, reportedly told the detainees that the government had directed Nigerians residing in that country to leave.
It was gathered that many Nigerians residing in the country now live in serious fear and have raised an alarm over their plights in that country.
They pleaded with federal government to urgently intervene and save them from further maltreatment and humiliation.
A Nigerian resident in Botswana, who identified himself as Lawrence Bassey, told our reporter on phone that the action of the government, which is centred on alleged hatred and racism, had become very worrisome.
He said: “What we experienced here in Botswana from Thursday to Friday last week was very tragic and devastating. Many law-abiding Nigerians with official permits doing their legitimate businesses here in Botswana were forcefully arrested, beaten, detained and were refused visit by their relations.”
Wot r u doing in Botswanna? Imagine of all countries
ReplyDeleteIt is a pity bcos it seems almost all countries except very few are now better than Niger
ReplyDeleteCheck out 99% of them are Ndigbo. Go and find out what happen, the bottom line is that they wants to claim there more than the owners.
ReplyDeleteGo to Europe, especially UK the Yorubas are more than any other ethnic group there. They have been living happily before the Igbo infiltrate that land.
They introduce trade in all the known hard drugs. They have spoilt there for others. Check the number of deportee and count the percentage of Ndigbos, you will be amazed. They thought Africans how to do 'business'. Just after the Nigerian civil ended the first armed robber in Nigeria was an Igbo man. If you doubt me the history is there for every one. If only the government of Nigeria will allowed to discus, whether to stay together or every group go his separate way then we would see who will surfer most. Is it not that erosion prone land. I laugh. Unlike before nobody wants the burden of an Igbo man again. Marginalisation is their popular language, yet they want to marginalise people in their own ancestral home. Please enough is enough of the Igbos. Why? are they the only ethnic group that has problems of poverty.
Abigail, or whatever pseudonym you are using, tell us where you are from, & let's tell you about your tribe. Please ask for statistics of Nigerians in UK jails, over 90% of them are Yoruba. The credit card fraud ring of 22, that were rounded up in New York area last year were, save for 2, all Yoruba. Before other Nigerians knew what was happening during the period leading to the sixties, they had been dealing in drugs, & defrauding the UK economy where they'd gone in droves to acquire education. Ask your fathers about stories that had to do with term "Oyinbo go".the go part should be pronounced "gor". Virtually all the deportees being brought back from Saudi Arabia for drugs,overstay, etc, are Yoruba. Now they're labelling people. Igbo bashing is now a favourite past time. Go make your own efforts to survive. Please name the first armed robber after the Civil war. Everybody knows the first to give us the "Bar beach Show", as it was then known, was Oyenusi, followed by Folorunsho.Please tell me if they were Igbo. When Igbo bring you the first Gold medal @ the Olympics, & contribute a very strong quota in our national football teams, you don't mouth your verbiage against them. All you're all looking for, in the insult of the Igbo, you'll find someday soon. Nobody should run when their home areas become theatres of war. Igbo land has been a theatre of war before. Never again. Others will taste it sooner than later.
ReplyDeleteIf there are any issues, discuss them dispassionately/objectively, instead of labelling ethnic groups.