NiDCOM Demands Justice for Nigerian Student Stabbed to Death in Ireland

NiDCOM Demands Justice for Nigerian Student Stabbed to Death in Ireland
The family said Qayyum stepped in while a woman was allegedly being harassed
Qayyum, the eldest of 5 children, had hoped to build a career as a computer engineer

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Qayyum Balogun, a 21-year-old Nigerian student who was fatally stabbed in Dublin, Ireland, calling for a thorough and transparent investigation into the incident.

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In a statement issued on Tuesday, NiDCOM Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described the incident as a tragic loss of a promising young man whose life was cut short at an early age.

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She expressed confidence that Irish authorities would conduct a comprehensive investigation and ensure that everyone involved in the killing is brought to justice.

Qayyum, a third-year Computer Science student at Maynooth University, was born in Dublin to Nigerian parents who live in Dundalk, County Louth.

According to his family, he had attended a concert by Nigerian rapper Famous Pluto with his sister on the night of June 2 before the incident occurred.

The family said Qayyum stepped in while a woman was allegedly being harassed, after which a group of men reportedly chased him through Johnson’s Court to Clarendon Street, where he was stabbed multiple times shortly before 3:00 a.m.

He was rushed to St James’s Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

His mother, Teslimot Balogun, described him as a calm, friendly and easy-going young man with no links to criminal activity or gang violence.

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Qayyum, the eldest of 5 children, had hoped to build a career as a computer engineer.

Irish police, the Gardaí, have launched a murder investigation into the incident. Authorities have already made several arrests, including a man in his 20s who has been charged with assault causing harm and a teenage suspect who was taken into custody.

Investigators believe another key suspect fled Ireland through Northern Ireland before travelling to Britain, prompting cooperation between the Gardaí, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and British police.

The Gardaí have said there is currently no evidence to suggest the attack was racially motivated.

Reacting to the incident, Dabiri-Erewa said the death was a painful loss not only for the Balogun family but also for Nigeria.

“Every Nigerian, irrespective of where they reside, deserves to live, study and pursue their dreams in safety and dignity,” she said.

She also commended the Nigerian Embassy in Ireland, members of the Nigerian community and others who have supported the bereaved family, while reaffirming NiDCOM’s commitment to protecting the interests and welfare of Nigerians living abroad.