Nigeria has asked the Indian government to ensure immediate arrest, and prosecution of all those responsible for attacks on Nigerians in Greater Noida this week. Olushola Enikanolaiye, permanent secretary in Nigeria's foreign ministry, put forth the demand to Indian High Commissioner B Nagabhushana Reddy in a meeting.
Reddy was immediately summoned to the foreign ministry once the attacks on a handful of Nigerians. Senior Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora to President Muhammadu Buhari, Abike Dabiri-Erewa condemned the attacks calling them "deplorable and unwarranted". In a statement released in Nigerian capital Abuja, she asked the Indian government to "ensure that any alleged suspect should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law". She also called on Nigerians in India to "remain calm and be watchful of their surroundings." The appeal came after "multiple distress calls" were made by Nigerian students on concerns over their safety.
Three Nigerian nationals were punched, kicked, physically and verbally abused in a mall, and another near Pari Chowk, Greater Noida, by a mob of 600 to 700 locals on Monday during a protest against the death of a young boy. Manish Khari, a class 12 student, is believed to have died of a drug overdose allegedly supplied by his Nigerian neighbours. Khari, who went missing on Friday last week, passed away in a private hospital the next day. The doctors are not sure of the reasons for his death and have preserved his viscera.
No strangers to unfair treatment, Precious Amalcima, one of the victims, said it is normal for them to get slapped on the back, be called saand (bull) or Kaalu (black), be overcharged in a shop or an auto rickshaw. It was just recently when he was walking on a road and a pillion rider on a scooter hit him on the back and began calling him names. A student of Bachelor of Arts in Noida International University, Amalcima was admitted in Kailash hospital and has since been discharged. His brother Endurance Amarawa however, still nurses his head an forearm injuries in the hospital, along with Ibgiya Malu Chukwuma.
"We are overcharged for food, clothes, and everything else. Moreover, we are accused of drug pedalling. Indians have no respect for us. Is this what our parents sent us here for?" Amalcima asked. He said his father wanted to visit to check over them, but he strictly advised against it. Chukwuma, in an interview with a media source, bared the right part of his back flashing a fresh injury. "I got this in Kasna when a Fortuner hit me intentionally." They claim to have lost their phones, footwear, money, and new clothes they bought in the mall.
The entire incident was shot on a mobile camera. Kasna SHO Avnish Dikshit informed that the police have booked 600-700 people for the assault and so far, five have been arrested. When inquired if any local political leader was responsible for the mass attack, officials chose not to speak.
The victims were visited by Nigerian High Commissioner in the hospital. Mahavir Singh, Foreign Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) of Gautam Buddh Nagar informed that there are 434 African nationals in the district. 250 of these are Nigerians. Most of them who come to India as education is comparatively inexpensive in the country.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was approached by an African student called Sadiq Bello on micro-blogging website Twitter. He wrote, "You need to act fast as living for us in Noida is becoming life threatening issue". She spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who has promised a "fair" investigation.
