A growing number of Nigerian nationals currently residing in India have raised alarming concerns over widespread police brutality, extortion, and neglect by their home country’s diplomatic mission. Many of them say they are desperate to return home but are unable to afford the costs involved in doing so.
Speaking under anonymity to Vanguard on Sunday, one Nigerian citizen described the harsh reality faced by many of his compatriots in India. He appealed passionately to the Nigerian government to urgently intervene and facilitate their safe return.
According to him, several protests have been organized to draw attention to these abuses, including demonstrations outside the Nigerian Embassy in India. However, he said, these efforts have yielded no results.
“If we were granted bail and the chance to return to Nigeria, we would not hesitate to take it,” he said. “But the embassy isn’t helping, and many of us have nothing left.”
Describing the methods used by local law enforcement, he said, “The moment an Indian police officer stops you, they seize your phone, go through your chats, and then demand you call family or friends to send money. If you refuse to pay, they often plant drugs on you or fabricate charges just to lock you up. If you’re lucky, you end up in a deportation camp instead.”
He further alleged that some fellow Nigerians collaborate with Indian police to extort money from others, worsening the situation. “This corruption has been going on for years. The embassy’s silence only emboldens them.”
Tragically, he recounted the death of his friend Peter, known affectionately as Pino Pino, who he believes was beaten to death by the police. Peter was the son of the late Chief Felix Ugbekile. He said CCTV footage of the incident has been withheld by authorities, and visible wounds on Peter’s body—including bleeding from the back of his head—suggested severe physical assault.
“Peter was killed on Tuesday, June 10. Since then, there has been no justice. The people responsible have not been arrested, and the police are yet to release the CCTV footage,” he lamented.
Rather than investigating Peter’s killers, he said, the police arrested 12 Nigerians following the incident—highlighting a recurring pattern of injustice.
He also shed light on the dire conditions in Indian deportation camps: “The situation there is inhumane. They don’t want us to leave because we generate revenue through fines. People are dying in those camps—boys, girls, even children. It’s heartbreaking.”
Sharing his personal experience, he said, “I was arrested last year in September. I had to pay nearly one lakh rupees to be released. I’ve been arrested multiple times, each time forced to pay a large sum. I even sold my land in Nigeria just to buy my freedom.”
According to him, many Nigerians are trapped in a vicious cycle of arrest, extortion, and abuse. “I’ve paid more than four times to get out. The next time you’re caught, you pay again—or worse, they plant evidence and send you to jail.”
He expressed a deep desire to return to Nigeria but said he lacks the means to pay the overstay fines. “If the government can organize a free flight for us, I’ll gladly return. I’ve lost everything. I just don’t want to end up in jail or those camps again. The conditions there are deadly.”
When asked about support from the Nigerian embassy or visa reissuance, he replied, “I don’t know. We’ve received no help.”
In response to these developments, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated, “The High Commission of Nigeria in New Delhi is aware of Peter’s death and is working with Nigerian community leaders and Indian authorities to uncover the facts.”
Abdulrahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocol at the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), said the commission has not received new reports recently. “However, we are aware of similar cases in the past, and investigations were ordered. We assure Nigerians that we will collaborate with the High Commission to ensure thorough investigations. The government does not condone mistreatment of its citizens and will act accordingly,” he affirmed.
Efforts by Vanguard to reach the Indian Embassy in Nigeria for comments were unsuccessful, with no response from its representative, Pranay Sinha.
According to a report published by The Hindu on December 31, 2024, Nigerians comprised the highest number of deported foreigners from India during the 2023–24 period. Out of 2,331 total deportations between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024, 1,470 were Nigerians, followed by 411 Bangladeshis.
For Nigerians whose visas have expired, there is a legal option to return home by applying for an Exit Permit through India’s Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) portal. This permit allows an individual to leave the country without being arrested at the airport, though fines—ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹50,000 or more—are required depending on the length of overstay.
The Nigerian High Commission can assist distressed citizens with emergency travel certificates, requests for waivers in exceptional cases, and coordinate voluntary repatriation. However, many face detention or end up in overcrowded deportation camps due to lack of documentation or funds.
This story underscores an urgent humanitarian crisis affecting Nigerian citizens in India and highlights the need for immediate diplomatic action and comprehensive government intervention to ensure their safety, dignity, and safe return.
