Some Nigerians in Bangladesh, a country in South Asia, have raised the alarm over “illegal arrest”.
In a letter sent, Gideon Onyeoma, a
representative of the Nigeria Community Association in Bangladesh (NCAB), said
security operatives in the country have illegally arrested over 70 Nigerians
since June.
He added that the arrested persons have neither been granted
bail nor charged to court.
Onyeoma explained that some of the arrested persons had
travelled to Bangladesh to purchase clothing materials but were unable to
return to Nigeria due to the coronavirus pandemic which led to a lockdown.
“Since the month of June 2020, more than seventy Nigerians have been arrested by the security operatives in Bangladesh with no evidence and with no proper chance for bail,” the letter read.
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| Some Nigerians affected by the situation |
“In the month of July 2020, the police operatives went to
arrest a Nigerian suspect and forced him to take them to where many Nigerians
live. After taking them to the firm of a Nigerian around the area, thinking
that he will be saved, thy still didn’t release him. They arrested all the 15
men they found in the office.
“These men all came from Nigeria legally to Bangladesh
earlier in 2020, before the pandemic started, to buy garments products to be
sent home but because of the pandemic and the lockdown they couldn’t travel
back.”
The association said the Bangladesh police made subsequent
arrests of Nigerians, including Frank Jacob, the community’s president.
The arrested person are said to be in jail while their
passports have been seized over allegations of false Bangladesh visas.
“It is very hard for Nigerians to renew or extend their
visas in Bangladesh before or towards the expiration of their visas, but it is
not the same case for other nationals,” the letter read.
“To make matters worse, whenever our people are arrested,
the police will invite the media houses (print and electronic), they will take
pictures and videos of the suspects and start showing and writing that they are
criminals even when the court has not made any pronouncement. This is the
biggest threat to our security in the land.
“When that is done, you automatically lose many things like
your apartment and everything inside and your office, then you will face
attacks by the people on the street.
“The Nigerians who have registered business are losing it
gradually. The community president’s restaurant has been branded as a meeting
point for Nigerians, and this made his landlord to lock up the place for
months, accruing lots of losses for the owner.”
The Nigerian community called on the federal government to
review its relationship with the South Asian country and initiate actions in
defense of its citizens.
When contacted AbdulRahman Balogun, spokesman of the
Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) said that he is not aware
of the situation in Bangladesh.
“I am not aware of it until I see a copy of that letter.
Most times, those letters go to chairman and our legal unit to investigate.
Maybe I will investigate tomorrow,” he said.
“I can’t be aware if I haven’t seen a letter complaining
about it. I am not aware.”
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