INDIA: 2 Nigerian students escape death after mob attack

The death of a class 12 student identified as Manish Khari who gave up the ghost after a suspected drug overdose witnessed an attack on Nigerian students and other African nationals.

Two of the students narrowly escaped death after they were hit and stabbed with different weapons, as they landed in hospital.

According to reports, Nigerians and other African nationals who reside in the Greater Noida part of India now live in fear after experiencing two days of violence targeted at them following the death of the Indian student.

Students of African descent blamed the attacks on political pressure amid rising tensions between local residents and the foreigners even as locals alleged that Africans living in the area had plied the youth with the drugs which killed him.

“We come to India to live in peace but we will not be bullied by force or violence. The need of the hour is for African students to unite against this blatant racism,” said Bukola Lawrence, a Nigerian national.

Read also: After killing 3 for helping soldiers, Boko Haram abducts 10 in same village

Continuing, Lawrence, a commerce student at IEC College said; “We have been living in a sense of fear as there is no protection for us even after the attack”.

He further added that the attacks were well-planned.

“We had assembled at Kasna Police station on Monday morning demanding the release of two students who had been arrested without proper investigation. As soon as the duo got bail and we left the spot, several African nationals were attacked by the local people, said Lawrence.

India’s foreign minister Sushma Swaraj has asked for a report from the Uttar Pradesh government about the violence.

A Greater Noida circle officer Abhinandan said that suspects involved in the attack will be apprehended and made to face the law.

“This behaviour of people giving a racial tone to an issue is not acceptable. Some anti-social elements joined the peaceful march and resorted to violence. We have videotaped the events and will book each one of them.”

 

 

 

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Click here to download the Ripples Nigeria App for latest updates

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now