The federal government has condemned the arrest of 42 Nigerians by Mozambican authorities, describing the development as distasteful.

In a statement on Sunday, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), said the sudden and specific round-up of only Nigerians in Mozambique depicts “a xenophobic attack on Nigerian citizens.”

“According to reports, the Nigerians were specifically singled out and arrested at a spare parts market, out of all the traders and individuals present in the market, without any allegations or explanations on why they were detained,” the statement said.

Ms Dabiri-Erewa urged the Mozambican authorities to charge the Nigerians to court if they were found culpable for any crime.

“If they run foul of the law, the authorities should arraign and charge them before a court of law,” Ms Dabiri-Erewa said.

She noted that those arrested are confirmed to be legal residents of the Southern African country, adding that the Mozambican authorities have not informed the Nigerian attorney general of any charges against citizens.

“They were allegedly beaten, their personal belongings stolen, and many of them are said to have fallen sick and in need of medical attention,” Ms Dabiri-Erewa said in the statement signed by NiDCOM spokesperson Abdur-Rahman Balogun.

Ms Dabiri-Erewa further called for the release of the 42 Nigerian nationals.

Nigerians have faced xenophobic attacks in the South African region, particularly in the Republic of South Africa, since 2008. 

Between 2016 and 2019, over 130 Nigerians were killed during xenophobic attacks in South Africa, a country that shares about 496 kilometres (308 miles) of land border with Mozambique to the east and northeast.

Also, between 2022 and 2024, Nigerians in South Africa also faced targeted looting and widespread violence across the Southern African country.