Thirteen of the 42 Nigerians earlier arrested in Mozambique have been deported without any known charges, raising concerns over their treatment by the country’s authorities.

Although Mozambican officials cited lack of proper documentation as the basis for the deportation, most of the affected Nigerians reportedly possessed valid travel and residence documents.

Only one of the deportees was said to have had an expired visa, which lapsed a day before the deportation.

Receiving the returnees at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on behalf of the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Mr Dipo Odebowale described the development as unfair.

He expressed optimism that Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs would engage his Mozambican counterpart to address the situation.

The deportees, who arrived aboard South African Airways flight SA60, said they were arrested at their various business locations in Maputo and detained despite having valid documentation permitting their stay in Mozambique.

They also revealed that 29 Nigerians remain in detention in Maputo and appealed for urgent intervention by the Nigerian government.

All the deportees—adult males—called on NiDCOM to assist them in seeking justice and redress for what they described as wrongful treatment.

In her remarks, Dabiri-Erewa sympathised with the returnees over their ordeal and urged Nigerians living abroad to respect the laws of their host countries.

She, however, stressed that no Nigerian should be punished for offences they did not commit. (The Guardian)