Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today accused a Nigerian diplomat of sending "offensive SMSes" to a senior police officer in the aftermath of protests that followed the killing of a Nigerian national last week. He also blamed the Indian foreign ministry for the snowballing diplomatic row with Nigeria.
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"The row between India and Nigeria was created by the mistakes of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)," Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told NDTV. "The Nigerian attache sent offensive text messages to the superintendent of police. Why didn't the attache come to Goa through the MEA?" Mr Parrikar asked.(Watch)
Nigerian consular official Jacob Nwadadia had warned on Monday that thousands of Indians in his country will be "thrown out on the streets" if the police doesn't stop evicting Nigerians from their homes in Goa, where the government is trying to locate and deport foreigners without valid visas.
Nigeria's ambassador in India, Ndubuisi Vitus Amaku, has said, "The Nigerian people as a whole feel insulted and offended... I need evidence from you and from others that you are also concerned about the safety of Nigerians.
Nigeria has formally written to the Indian government expressing concern over the security of its citizens, and a drive by the Goa government's drive to deport its citizens.
"The MEA got in touch with Goa's chief secretary who assured us of a report in 48 hours. Our acting High Commissioner in Abuja went to the Nigerian foreign office and explained the situation as we see it," Syed Akbaruddin, Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
On Wednesday, provocative and racist banners stating "Say no to Nigerian, Say no to Drugs" came up in Mapusa town with locals singling out Nigerians and saying they will not rent homes to them.
Mr Parrikar has denied any racism and said that people were responding to a perception. "There is this feeling because more Nigerians have been arrested for indulging in the narcotics trade."
Michael Lobo, an MLA from the ruling party, said, "98% Nigerians, African nationals in Goa are involved in drugs... they come to Goa on false pretext of tourism, studies." His party colleague and a minister in the state government, Dayanand Mandrekar, in fact, said that "Nigerians are like a 'cancer'.(Read: Nigerians are like cancer, says Goa minister)
Goa police had on Wednesday arrested a Goan youth - Surendra Pal - in connection with the killing of the Nigerian national which sparked the protests
Obodo Uzoma Simeon was killed on October 31. The murder is being investigated by the state police's special investigation squad.
