Authorities in Malta have revealed that 11 Nigerians are among the 154 foreign nationals currently held in detention centres across the country as Bangladeshis top the list.

Malta Daily reported that the figures were contained in a report submitted to the Maltese parliament by the Minister for Home Affairs and Security, Glenn Bedingfield, detailing the number of foreign nationals detained across the country.

According to the information released by Mr Bedingfield, Nigeria ranked on the list of countries with most citizens in Maltese detention centres with 10 of its nationals held in Ragel and one in Mara. 

Meanwhile, Bangladesh is the country with the highest number of detainees in Malta, with 60 of its nationals held in the European country. Syria is second on the list with 17 detained citizens, Libya sits at fourth position with 10 while India with eight of its nationals completed the top five. 

Other countries whose citizens are in detention in the country include Eritrea, with five nationals; Somalia, Pakistan and Gambia, with four each; and Algeria, Morocco, Ghana and Mali, with three apiece. Botswana, Sudan, Colombia and Cameroon each have two nationals on the list.

The list also includes one national each from Palestine, Congo, Uganda, Georgia, Serbia, Senegal, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Egypt, Ukraine and Nepal.

The Peoples Gazette in July published a report on scores of Nigerians in the diaspora that were arrested, convicted and jailed for different crimes in America, Europe, the UK, and Asia.

Also, The Gazette reported on Wednesday that Cyprus blacklisted six Nigerian nationals Omoyemwen Queensley Erhunmwunsee, Osemwenoyemwen Victoria Aduwa, Success Adesuwa Ekhosuehi, Faith Osaherumwen Agontaen, Etinosa Faith Agho, and Blessing Okoro from entering the country over public safety concerns.