NIDCOM condemns deportation of Nigerians from Mozambique

Tuesday, March 31, 2026 - The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has confirmed that 40 out of 42 Nigerians arrested in Mozambique have been deported, stressing that due process was not followed.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Commission’s spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, described the deportation as “inhuman” and a violation of the affected individuals’ rights.

According to the statement, the deportees arrived in Nigeria in three batches of 13, 16 and 11, respectively, aboard South African Airways flight SA60 and Ethiopian Airlines on March 24, 26 and 27. Two Nigerians remain in Mozambique.

“The deportation did not follow due process. Those affected were “randomly arrested, detained and deported despite having proper documentation.”

The Commission said Mozambican authorities claimed the arrests were part of immigration enforcement operations in the capital, Maputo.

Providing further details, NIDCOM noted that one of the two Nigerians still in Mozambique is married to a Mozambican citizen, while the other was born in the country.

“It is saddening that while all of these were going on, the Mozambican authorities did not reach out to the Nigerian Embassy, while all emissaries from the Embassy were rebuffed,” the statement added.

The Commission also alleged that money confiscated from the Nigerians during detention was not returned upon deportation, with additional sums reportedly taken from their mobile applications.

The 42 Nigerians were said to have been arrested at their various business locations despite possessing valid residency documents.

Some of the deportees alleged that the arrests were carried out without prior notice and insisted they had complied with all legal requirements to live and work in Mozambique.

“They were detained for several days before being processed for deportation,” the statement said.

Last week, NIDCOM disclosed that 13 of the 42 arrested Nigerians had earlier been deported, while 29 others remained in custody at the time.

The 13 deportees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Friday, March 27, 2026, without any formal charges filed against them.

Mozambican authorities had reportedly claimed that the Nigerians lacked proper documentation. However, the deportees maintained that they possessed valid residence permits, except for one individual whose visa expired a day before deportation.