The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has confirmed that thirteen Nigerians arrested in Mozambique have been deported, while 29 others remain in detention in the country’s capital, Maputo, raising concerns over alleged unfair treatment.

The deportees arrived in Lagos on Friday via South African Airways flight SA60 and were received at Murtala Muhammed International Airport by officials of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), led by the agency’s representative, Dipo Odebowale, on behalf of chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

Mr Odebowale said the 13 deportees were part of a group of 42 Nigerians initially detained by Mozambican authorities without formal charges.

Mozambique had reportedly claimed the Nigerians lacked proper documentation.

However, the deportees maintained they held valid residence permits, except for one individual whose visa expired a day prior to deportation.

He criticised the Mozambican authorities’ handling of the matter, describing it as unjust.

“These Nigerians were not fairly treated. We are hopeful that the Minister of Foreign Affairs will take up this matter with his Mozambican counterpart to ensure that justice is served,” Mr Odebowale said.

Earlier in a statement, the director of media, public relations and protocols unit, NiDCOM, Abdul-Rahman Balogun, said the deportees were part of a group of 42 Nigerians initially detained by Mozambican authorities without any formal charges filed against them.

Mr Balogun said the 13 deportees were adult males who called on authorities to pursue the matter diplomatically and ensure accountability over what they described as wrongful detention and deportation.

Mr Balogun quoted the deportees recounting being arrested at their workplaces despite committing no offences.

“We were picked up from our workplaces without explanation and detained, even though we had valid documents allowing us to stay and operate in Mozambique,” one returnee said.

They further appealed to the Nigerian government to intervene for the release of the 29 Nigerians still in custody.

“We are pleading with the Nigerian government to help secure the release of those still in detention. They have done nothing wrong,” another deportee added.

While expressing sympathy for the deportees’ ordeal, Mrs Dabiri-Erewa reminded Nigerians living abroad to respect the laws of host countries but stressed that due process must be followed.

“Nigerians must obey the laws of the countries they reside in. However, no Nigerian should be punished for an offence they did not commit,” she said.