Nigerians In Bangladesh Say Their Security Is Threatened

A group of Nigerians residing in the South Asian country of Bangladesh have called on the Federal Government for help, as they are being detained illegally by the country's security agencies.

According to TheCable, a delegate of the Nigeria Community Association in Bangladesh (NCAB), Gideon Onyeama, said that over 70 Nigerians "have been arrested" by security operatives "with no evidence".

He explained that security operatives seized a Nigerian "suspect", forcing him to "take them to where many Nigerians lice".

Onyeama said, “Since the month of June 2020, more than seventy Nigerians have been arrested by the security operatives in Bangladesh with no evidence and with no proper chance for bail.

“In the month of July 2020, the police operatives went to arrest a Nigerian suspect and forced him to take them to where many Nigerians live. After taking them to the firm of a Nigerian around the area, thinking that he will be saved, thy still didn’t release him. They arrested all the 15 men they found in the office.

“These men all came from Nigeria legally to Bangladesh earlier in 2020, before the pandemic started, to buy garments products to be sent home but because of the pandemic and the lockdown they couldn’t travel back.

“It is very hard for Nigerians to renew or extend their visas in Bangladesh before or towards the expiration of their visas, but it is not the same case for other nationals.

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“To make matters worse, whenever our people are arrested, the police will invite the media houses (print and electronic), they will take pictures and videos of the suspects and start showing and writing that they are criminals even when the court has not made any pronouncement. This is the biggest threat to our security in the land.

“When that is done, you automatically lose many things like your apartment and everything inside and your office, then you will face attacks by the people on the street.

“The Nigerians who have registered business are losing it gradually. The community president’s restaurant has been branded as a meeting point for Nigerians, and this made his landlord to lock up the place for months, accruing lots of losses for the owner.”