Some Nigerians in Bangladesh have raised alarm over the injustice and inhumane treatment that are being meted out to them by authorities in the Asian country.
A newspaper in Bangladesh had recently called for the banning of Nigerians from entering the country, citing alleged criminality and illegal immigration.
But speaking with an online magazine, Nigerian Abroad, Don Prince, a Nigerian in the country said the narrative is false. He called on the Nigerian government to intervene and save Nigerians from worsening Bangladeshi harassment.
“They are trying to kill us all. We came here because of clothing business. They are just arresting everybody for no reason.”
Prince added that not every Nigerian there is into fraud, as many are on business trips.
“Some of their countrymen even scam us, taking money for goods from us and running away with our money. The police are arresting people without evidence.”
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Nduka Ibeto, another Nigerian in Bangladesh said he came to the country to buy goods March this year but got trapped over the COVID-19 lockdown.
“I’m a family man in Nigeria. I have my documents, but they are not looking at documents. My visa is valid. They’re just arresting everybody. Yesterday, they packed about 16 Nigerians into a cell. They just badge into our homes and seize our belongings, including the money we came to buy goods with.”
Nduka, who spoke with a shaking voice, was worried over comments by some Bangladeshi police officials who reportedly threatened to kill the arrested Nigerians. Nduka shared videos showing Nigerians in handcuffs, portrayed on Bangladeshi media as criminals.
“This is a Muslim country and Nigeria doesn’t have an embassy here. It’s the Nigerian embassy in India that runs Nigerian immigration with Bangladesh.”
Also expressing these fears was Chidiebere Francis, another Nigerian trader in the country, who said the indiscriminate arrests are “a danger to every Nigerian here.”
“The president of the Nigerian community in Bangladesh has been detained for over one month now, so also the president of the Igbo community here. All these leaders did was go to the police to ask what their countrymen did to be locked up.
“I have a shipping company here. Our brothers in legitimate businesses are being arrested by the Bangladeshi police force. Nigeria Abroad should help us pass a message across to the Nigerian embassy in India to come to our aid.”
Others who spoke to Nigeria Abroad noted that media incitement following the arrest of some alleged Nigerian fraudsters in the country is responsible for this spate of arrests, which intensified since May 2020.
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