Nigeria has condemned the reported protest by some Ghanaians against Nigerian residents in that country, asking that they be deported home.
Categorically, she told the protesters that Nigerian citizens are not criminals.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, Chairman/CEO, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, while reacting to the protest, said the blanket outrage against Nigerians living in Ghana, and branding them as criminals should be condemned by all.
Her reaction was in a statement by the commission’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun.
Some Ghanaian citizens had reportedly staged a protest against Nigerians, accusing them of engaging in mass prostitution, ritual killings, kidnapping, and violent crimes in their country.
In a viral video on Tuesday, the protesters were seen wielding placards with various inscriptions such as “Armed robbery and violent attacks must stop; “Our health at stake due to mass prostitution; “Who protects the right and freedom of Ghanaians; “Nigerians are kidnapping and using people for rituals; “Our kids are getting missing because of Igbos,” among others.
They also displayed a picture of a man who was allegedly killed by a Nigerian in the Accra area of the country.
Speaking in the video, a lady in her mid-30s said Nigerians must go because of their anyhowness in their country.
“Nigerians must go because you can’t be in someone’s country and be doing anyhow. Nigerians must go,” she yelled.
Another protester said Nigerians have taken over their major markets and are perpetrating evil of sorts in their country.
“These Igbo, they are in every part of the country and have targeted our markets. Not just Igbo, Nigerians are in almost every village, and our laws have not allowed foreigners to engage in real dealings. They are perpetrating evil in our country. They even have a Igbo king in Ghana. They have hijacked our lands. It is just a matter of time; we will conquer them and take over our country,” he stressed.
But Dabiri-Erewa said: “Nigerians are not criminals. They are good ambassadors wherever they find themselves while those bad ones should be fished out and face the necessary sanctions.
“Ghana and Nigeria are like siamese twins. They are brothers and in the spirit of ECOWAS and regional integration should continue to live in peace like brothers.”
She appealed for calm and urged Nigerians living in Ghana not to be provoked or go into violence with anyone as the issue is being handled at the diplomatic level.
Also, she advised anyone using inciteful words to desist henceforth both from Nigerians and Ghanaians as that is capable of escalating the matter.
Dabiri-Erewa also advised Nigerians to disregard the videos circulating that Nigerians’ shops and properties are destroyed by Ghanaians.
“There is no evidence to that and we must at all cost prevent any reprisal attacks,” she said.
She praised Ghanaian and Nigeria High Commissioners for their efforts to control the situation, adding that the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, has also been in touch with Ghanaian authorities and had taken some pro- active measures.
