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Tag: Nigerians Abroad

  • Uganda Detains 62 Nigerians Over Alleged Illegal Church Operations, Immigration Violations

    Ugandan authorities have detained 62 Nigerian nationals over alleged illegal church operations and immigration violations, following an enforcement operation in Adjumani.

    Arrest over alleged illegal activities

    The Ugandan National Citizenship and Immigration Control (NCIC) confirmed the development in a statement on Wednesday, stating that the arrests were made after a tip-off.

    “Following a tip-off, our enforcement team has arrested 62 Nigerian nationals operating illegally in Adjumani (without work permits),” the agency said.

    According to the statement, the group was primarily found operating a church alongside other activities without the required legal authorisation.

    Authorities cite immigration violations

    Simon Peter Mundeyi, spokesperson for Uganda’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, said the individuals are currently being held at the Namanve facility.

    He noted that they are undergoing legal processes that may lead to deportation, fines, or possible blacklisting.

    “They often pose as gospel preachers while engaging in other irregular activities. Acting on intelligence, we moved in and apprehended them,” he said.

    Conflicting accounts from suspects

    Mundeyi disclosed that preliminary investigations have revealed varying accounts from those detained.

    While some claimed they were lured into Uganda with promises of jobs, others are being investigated over suspected involvement in online fraud and related offences.

    The development has raised concerns around migration, religious activities, and cross-border enforcement as authorities continue their probe.

  • Police Disperse Anti-Foreigner Protest Targeting Nigerians

    South African police fired rubber bullets and teargas on Wednesday to break up a large anti-foreigner protest in the coastal city of Durban, where demonstrators specifically named Nigerians among the foreigners they want expelled from the country.

    What happened in Durban

    Hundreds of protesters, including members of political parties and the xenophobic vigilante group Operation Dudula, marched through Durban’s streets waving placards and chanting against undocumented immigrants.

    Several shop owners shut their businesses ahead of the march, fearing looting and violence. A small group of protesters reportedly harassed bystanders and looted shops before police moved in to disperse the crowd.

    Who led the protest and what they said

    ActionSA party leader Herman Mashaba addressed the crowd, singling out Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Mexico among the countries whose nationals he said were flooding South Africa.

    “We are seeing our government allowing our country to be flooded by groups from all over the world,” Mashaba said. “So we are saying to our government this is unacceptable.”

    The deeper context

    The protest reflects long-running tensions in South Africa over unemployment and competition for jobs and housing.

    South Africa’s statistics agency puts the national unemployment rate at nearly 32 per cent, one of the highest in the world. Approximately three million foreigners — around 5.1 per cent of the population — currently live in the country.

    Nigerians have repeatedly been targeted in xenophobic attacks in South Africa over the years, with previous waves of violence in 2008, 2015, and 2019 displacing thousands and forcing the temporary closure of Nigerian businesses.

    Nigeria’s position

    The Nigerian government has not yet issued a formal response to Wednesday’s protest. The Federal Government and the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria have in past incidents summoned South African envoys in Nigeria and issued formal protests following attacks on Nigerian nationals.

    Nigerians living in South Africa are urged to remain calm, avoid large gatherings, and stay in contact with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria or the Consulate General in Johannesburg in the event of any threat to their safety.

    No date has been set for further protests, but Operation Dudula and allied groups have previously indicated they intend to continue pressure on the South African government over immigration policy. The Nigerian government is expected to monitor the situation closely given the large number of Nigerian nationals residing in South Africa.