Attack on Nigerians: FG Summons India Envoy

Nigeria has demanded an unreserved apology from the India over the death of its citizen identified as Obodo Simeon.

Professor Viola Onwuliri, Nigeria Minister of Foreign Affairs told journalists at the sidelines of Pre-Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting press conference in Abuja on Monday.

Simeon was found dead in Goa, a popular tourist destination in the western part of India on 31 October after he was reportedly stabbed to death in Panaji, the state capital.

The death of the Nigerian led to wide scale protest by his companions who blocked a highway while the remains of the deceased was being taken for post-mortem.

Attempts by the Police to bring the situation under control led to rioting. The Police authorities in the Indian town were reported to have slammed charges of arson and damaging public property against 51 Nigerians and one Ghanaian involved in the protest.

Residents of the city have also introduced different means of discriminating against Nigerians, including not renting their houses to them.

“We have continued to condemn violence especially against Nigerians in different (Commonwealth) states. The recent one in India is really a big one to worry about and I have summoned the acting head of Indian Mission to admonish him on what had happened to our citizens,” said Onwuliri who added that the Acting Head of Mission of India in Nigeria had been summoned to her office to explain the situation.

She however added that while the behavior of the Indian authorities was unacceptable, government will not support any form of unruly behaviour from its citizens.