Gbenro Adesina
The Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has refuted the allegation by the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Uchenna Madu, that the commission is “the medium being used by the Federal government to forcefully deport and persecute some people described as “Biafrans.”
In a statement signed by the Commission’s Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, NIDCOM described the allegation as malicious and mischievous, saying that it is far from the truth.
The statement read in part:
“The attention of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), and her Chairman/CEO, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has been drawn to a malicious, mischievous and fabricated story.
“Where the leader of the proscribed Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Uchenna Madu, falsely alleged that NIDCOM is the medium being used by the Federal government to forcefully deport and persecute some people described as “Biafrans.”
“In a statement entitled “Security agents killing our members secretly “, the group alleged that NIDCOM is being used to crack down its pro-Biafra groups leaders in the diaspora.
“These and other fabricated stories by this group is mischievous and is nothing but another deadly and attention seeking tales by moonlight.
“If however the writer of the story has any information on any Nigerian being unjustly treated and makes an official report, NIDCOM will look into it.
“In international relations, the process of deportation is a country’s decision based on its foreign policy.
:It must be pointed out that most countries are clamping down on irregular immigrants and NIDCOM has consistently been appealing to Nigerians to obey laws of the countries they reside and be good Ambassadors of Nigeria.
“So, the allegation that “the Federal Government is secretly working with some agents of foreign countries to arrest and deport some “ Biafrans “ is a figment of the writer’s imagination.
“The Diaspora Commission is for all Nigerians irrespective of tribe or religious inclinations as enshrined in the Act of the Parliament setting up the Commission.
“NIDCOM will continue to demand justice for Nigerians anywhere in the world, while those who commit crime will have to face the laws of the country, as we continue to appeal to Nigerians to abide by laws of their country of residence”.
