Nigeria summons Indian envoy over attacks

Abuja/New Delhi: Nigeria has summoned the Indian envoy in Abuja to express displeasure over the attacks on Nigerian students in India, the country's Foreign Office said.

Sola Enikanolaiye, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nigeria, summoned Indian High Commissioner B.N. Reddy in Abuja.

"I have just finished a meeting with the Indian High Commissioner where I expressed Nigeria's displeasure with the attacks on Nigerians," Enikanolaiye tweeted.

He said the Indian High Commissioner "informed of concrete steps taken" by the Indian government to address the incident and also promised justice.

Amnesty International in Nigeria said: "On March 27, four Nigerian men were beaten up by locals. Why would people face such terror because of the colour of their skin?."

It demanded that authorities in India's Uttar Pradesh state "must bring to justice those responsible of racist attacks on Black African Students".

"Living in India must not become a life-threatening issue for black people," it said.

The attacks on Nigerian student took place on Monday night in Greater Noida, some 40 km from the Indian capital, following protests over the death of a Class 12 student of a residential colony there due to drug overdose. Some people who were holding a candle-light vigil for the student attacked the Nigerians suspecting them of drug running.

Five people were arrested for the attacks.

India's External Affairs Ministry has condemned the attacks and said India is committed to the safety of foreigners in the country.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj too spoke to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Aditya Nath Yogi on the issue.