Nigeria: Killing of Locals in Equatorial Guinea

Nigeria: Killing of Locals in Equatorial Guinea

Holmes Kenneth

2 April 2009

I WAS disturbed reading in the newspapers recently about the killing of Nigerians and at a time some of them are still languishing in detention in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

This was revealed by a letter written to the Senate President by the concerned Nigerian businessmen running their commercial activities in Equatorial Guinea.

If the letter actually got to the Senate, one would like to know what the Nigerian government has done about it. What diplomatic effort has the government made to find out the true situation in that country. Or does it mean that the Nigerian government cares less about the lives of her citizens in the Diaspora?

It will be recalled that the Government of Equatorial Guinea had some weeks back raised an alarm of an attempt to overthrow it. It claimed that some Nigerian militants were involved. According to it, the gunmen that attacked the Presidential Palace that is located in Malabo were suspected to be from Nigeria. Even if this was to be true, could it not be possible that the criminals from Nigeria acted in connivance with internal forces.

It will be recalled that former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's son was involved at one time with some South Africans to overthrow this same Equatorial Guinea government. He has since been sentenced for his involvement. But did that attract killings or detention, thereafter, of British or South Africans in that country? The answer is no!

In Nigerians case, the Equatorial Guinea Government claimed that its forces repelled and killed some of the attackers and their boats sunk by the navy. Thereafter, there was unnecessary reprisal killing and detention of innocent businessmen of Nigerian extraction, in that country.

The Nigerian government through the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Chief Ojo Maduekwe had responded by saying they are solidly behind the Equatorial Guinea Government but doubted the involvement of genuine Nigerians in the recent episode. But should it be the reason the Equatorial Guinea government has visited its anger on other innocent Nigerians and the Nigerian Federal Government keeps quiet? The President swore the oath to defend Nigerian citizens.

Now many Nigerians who hitherto had their genuine business dealings have been chased and detained and some brutally killed by the Equatorial Guinea Government. It is in this regard that one cannot help but express concern at what is going on and would like the Federal Government to come out with a statement of its stand on this unfortunate development.

Mr. Kenneth, a public affairs commentator, writes from Umuahia, Abia State