Nigerian immigrants residing in India have shared disturbing stories of abuse, extortion, and police brutality, leaving many desperate to return home but unable to afford the charges.
Speaking anonymously to Vanguard on Sunday, one Nigerian revealed the grim reality that many confront and urged immediate action.
According to him, protests against police abuse have been held, including one addressed at the Nigerian Embassy in India, but to no avail.
He stated that if he and his colleagues were allowed bail and transportation back, they would gladly take the offer, pleading with the Nigerian government to assist them.
He said, “What we Nigerians are facing right here in India is so terrible. When any Indian police officer holds you, they will first collect your phone and search it before asking you to call your people to send money before they will free you.
“If you refuse to pay the money they request, they will send you to jail by implicating you with drugs, or if you’re lucky enough, they will dump you in their deportation camp.
“Some of our Nigerian brothers work with them to extort money from us. Our Nigerian embassy is not doing anything about this issue; that’s why it keeps on happening.
“But up till now, nothing has changed. It keeps getting worse day by day. This has been going on for years.”
Speaking about the tragic ordeal of his friend Peter, affectionately called Pino Pino, he illustrated the deadly consequences of this environment. Peter, son of the late Chief Felix Ugbekile, was allegedly beaten to death.
He said, “I believe he was beaten to death. The police refuse to release the CCTV footage. In a video, the back of his head was still bleeding. He was killed on Tuesday, June 10th, and up till now, nothing has happened.
