Re: Nigeria likely to throw out Indians after Goa's crackdown on Afric
Diplomatic row erupts over Nigerian's death in Goa - The Times of India
NEW DELHI: Faced with what was seen as veiled threat to Indians in Nigeria, the Centre on Tuesday leaned on the Goa government to submit a fresh report shortly on the death of a Nigerian national in the sunshine state that has sparked a diplomatic incident.
The Centre approached the state government for taking a fresh look at the Nigerian's death in the wake of a threat purportedly issued by a Nigerian diplomat that Indians in his country could be targeted if those allegedly responsible for the killing of his compatriot were not arrested and the Goa Police's campaign to evict the Nigerians unlawfully staying in the state did not stop.
"There are only 50,000 Nigerians living in India but there are over a million Indians living in Nigeria. Thousands of Indians living there will be thrown out on the streets if the forcible eviction of Nigerians in Goa does not stop," agencies quoted Nigeria's consular attache Jacob Nwadadia saying on Monday.
Significantly, the spokesperson of Nigerian high commission Tokunbo Falohun also emphasized the presence of Indians in Nigeria as he protested against Goa Police's handling of the death of his compatriot last week at Mapusa near Panaji.
"There is a large Indian community working in Nigeria. There are two temples in Lagos and all Indians have freedom to worship and for their other activities. We also are demanding the same," agencies quoted Falohun, saying on Tuesday.
Nigeria also wrote a note verbale (diplomatic letter) to the MEA protesting against the death of one of its nationals in a violent incident in Goa, demanding that five persons, whom they identified as culprits, be arrested by the authorities.
The death has been linked to a feud between two gangs engaged in drug trafficking.
MEA's official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said on Tuesday, "MEA has assured Nigeria that we have excellent bilateral relations and that the issue will be settled in a cooperative manner in line with our friendly ties."
Senior MEA officials spoke to Nigerian high commissioner. In Abuja, the acting Indian high commissioner spoke to the Nigerian foreign office to update them on the situation.
"We have lost one of our nationals in a cold-blooded murder. We have raised the issue with India and written a note verbale on Friday to convey our concerns over the security of our nationals," said Falohun.
"The guilty should be immediately apprehended and brought to justice. And they should also compensate the family of the victim," he told news agencies.
A Nigerian national was found dead with stab wounds at Mapusa near Panaji last week, triggering protests from around 200 Nigerians who blocked a road. Local reports said the murder was fallout of inter-gang rivalry among drug gangs.
This led Goa CM Manmohan Parrikar to apparently order the police to locate foreign nationals, including Nigerians who were staying on without proper documentation.
Diplomatic row erupts over Nigerian's death in Goa - The Times of India
NEW DELHI: Faced with what was seen as veiled threat to Indians in Nigeria, the Centre on Tuesday leaned on the Goa government to submit a fresh report shortly on the death of a Nigerian national in the sunshine state that has sparked a diplomatic incident.
The Centre approached the state government for taking a fresh look at the Nigerian's death in the wake of a threat purportedly issued by a Nigerian diplomat that Indians in his country could be targeted if those allegedly responsible for the killing of his compatriot were not arrested and the Goa Police's campaign to evict the Nigerians unlawfully staying in the state did not stop.
"There are only 50,000 Nigerians living in India but there are over a million Indians living in Nigeria. Thousands of Indians living there will be thrown out on the streets if the forcible eviction of Nigerians in Goa does not stop," agencies quoted Nigeria's consular attache Jacob Nwadadia saying on Monday.
Significantly, the spokesperson of Nigerian high commission Tokunbo Falohun also emphasized the presence of Indians in Nigeria as he protested against Goa Police's handling of the death of his compatriot last week at Mapusa near Panaji.
"There is a large Indian community working in Nigeria. There are two temples in Lagos and all Indians have freedom to worship and for their other activities. We also are demanding the same," agencies quoted Falohun, saying on Tuesday.
Nigeria also wrote a note verbale (diplomatic letter) to the MEA protesting against the death of one of its nationals in a violent incident in Goa, demanding that five persons, whom they identified as culprits, be arrested by the authorities.
The death has been linked to a feud between two gangs engaged in drug trafficking.
MEA's official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said on Tuesday, "MEA has assured Nigeria that we have excellent bilateral relations and that the issue will be settled in a cooperative manner in line with our friendly ties."
Senior MEA officials spoke to Nigerian high commissioner. In Abuja, the acting Indian high commissioner spoke to the Nigerian foreign office to update them on the situation.
"We have lost one of our nationals in a cold-blooded murder. We have raised the issue with India and written a note verbale on Friday to convey our concerns over the security of our nationals," said Falohun.
"The guilty should be immediately apprehended and brought to justice. And they should also compensate the family of the victim," he told news agencies.
A Nigerian national was found dead with stab wounds at Mapusa near Panaji last week, triggering protests from around 200 Nigerians who blocked a road. Local reports said the murder was fallout of inter-gang rivalry among drug gangs.
This led Goa CM Manmohan Parrikar to apparently order the police to locate foreign nationals, including Nigerians who were staying on without proper documentation.