NiDCOM defends response as Nigerians demand release of India detainees

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has defended its response to Nigerians demanding the release of Indian detainees, stating that India had granted an amnesty earlier, which some detainees failed to utilize. This response followed criticism from journalist Rufai Oseni and others on social media about NiDCOM's slow action to secure the release of Ekene and over 200 other Nigerians reportedly held at the Lampur detention centre in New Delhi.

Oseni, co-host of Arise TV, had raised Ekene's case weeks earlier and sent the man's contact details to NiDCOM after being directed to use official channels. Oseni claimed that despite an initial acknowledgment, NiDCOM and the Nigerian mission had not reached out to Ekene. He later shared screenshots of correspondence and called for public help to enable Ekene to return home.

NiDCOM responded by stating that a targeted amnesty was granted to undocumented Nigerian migrants in India, allowing over 4,000 Nigerians to return home without legal or administrative penalties. However, NiDCOM noted that some detainees refused the amnesty and were rounded up again, leading to their arrest and deportation. The commission emphasized that deportations are at the prerogative of the host country and that the Nigerian High Commission in India is actively advocating for a fresh extension of the amnesty programme.

NiDCOM's legal team would continue to monitor the situation. Oseni disputed the adequacy of NiDCOM's response, calling it a "glomar" reply issued only after public pressure and accusing the commission of inefficiency. He maintained that the focus should remain on helping Ekene and others return home, noting the detainee's separation from his family in Nigeria.