I Never Understood Why They Started Beating Me, Says Nigerian Student

New Delhi: Fearing attacks the Nigerian youths are staying indoors, and not risking any outing – not even their visit to the campuses – where they are pursuing higher education.

This comes at a time when the Association of African Students in India requested all African students residing in Greater Noida-Uttar Pradesh to remain indoor at their home and abstain from the lectures of Tuesday, March 27, 2017.

The students have been asked to be vigilant after the recent rise in the number of attacks on the members of their community. The Association has invested faith in the police and offered police foreigners help line numbers.Also Read: Nigerians Attacked: Sushma Swaraj Promises Action, Speaks to UP CM

African students in Greater Noida say they face prejudice every day and are now living in fear following a mob attack on some members of their community after the mysterious death of a local youth. Following the attack Sushma Swaraj also tweeted on speaking to the chief minister Yogi Adityanath regarding this situation.

"I don't even know what happened and I couldn't do anything about it. I don't want any action against anyone, I am just a student who is studying here," he added.

Meanwhile, Minister of State foreign affairs M J Akbar spoke to the Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria, apprising him of the steps taken by local authorities to ensure the security of Nigerian nationals. "The government is committed to ensuring safety and security of all foreigners in India. People from Africa, including students and youth, remain our valued partners," he said.

The protest was triggered by the death of a class-XII student, who reportedly died of drug overdose, and five Nigerian students from the same neighborhood were detained in connection with the case. The locals also claimed that the boy was seen spending time with these Nigerian students.

As the injured recovers from the bruises, the Nigerians living in other sectors of Greater Noida recover from attacks, News 18 met three students at their home who said “they are staying indoors out of fear".

Many of them are getting phone calls from home to return, he added, “I wanted to stay here for higher studies, but I think I will leave by next year. Our teachers are very good, but some uneducated Indians attack us – they don’t like us."