In an update published by Vanguard, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has officially called for the immediate release of 42 Nigerians currently held in detention facilities in Mozambique. The Commission revealed that it is working closely with the Nigerian Mission in Maputo to investigate the circumstances surrounding their arrest and ensure their legal rights are protected.
This diplomatic intervention follows reports of alleged profiling and arbitrary detention of Nigerians in some Southern African countries. NiDCOM Chair, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has urged Nigerians living abroad to remain law-abiding while assuring them that the Federal Government will not abandon its citizens in distress.
Daily Post reported that the “42 Nigerians were picked up in a series of raids,” while The Nation quoted NiDCOM as stating, “no citizen should be detained without fair legal representation.”
Echotitbits take: This is another test for Nigeria’s “Diaspora Diplomacy.” The government needs to be more proactive in negotiating status agreements for its citizens in other African nations to prevent these recurring incidents of mass detention.
Source: Vanguard – https://www.vanguardngr.com/2026/03/nidcom-demands-release-of-42-nigerians-detained-in-mozambique/, March 9, 2026
Photo credit: Vanguard
