Illegal migrants: Reps summon Immigration, Chinese envoy
*As Libya deports 150 Nigerians
By Tordue Salem
ABUJA—The House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs has summoned the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Immigration Service and the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria over some Chinese nationals allegedly roaming Nigerian streets without legal clearance.
The Committee will quizz the Immigration Service and the Chinese envoy on the poor condition of Nigerians in the Asian Country too.
Besides, the Libyan Government has deported over 150 Nigerians from its shores. The Nigerians who were said to have arrived Lagos yesterday, were released from detention after the Abike Dabiri-Erewa led Diaspora Committee and other civil society organisations raised alarm over the deplorable state of the emigrants in that Arab Country.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora, Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa made the disclosure yesterday.
“About 723 Nigerians were being held in Chinese prisons over illegal activities. These Nigerians may have committed crimes in that Country, but they are not yet tried.
“No matter what crimes they may have committed we are insisting that they should be given fair trial. We are not denying that they may have committed crime, but they deserve the right under international laws to get fair trial.
“Nigerians treat foreigners with respect, but you don’t get that reciprocated outside this Country and we want that to stop. Some people have even sent us text messages and called us to tell us that some Nigerians are living illegally in their neighbourhoods, without being harassed so we are going to address that.
We will invite the Immigration Service and the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, (Rong Yansong) to come and brief us on the matterâ€, she said.
