Amid recent unrest in several UK cities, British High Commissioner to Nigeria Dr. Richard Montgomery has assured the large Nigerian diaspora in the UK of their safety and security. This assurance was given to Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), during a meeting in Abuja.
The riots, sparked by the tragic death of three young schoolgirls in a knife attack, were exacerbated by misinformation alleging the attacker was an immigrant and radical Islamist, leading to anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim protests.
According to a statement from NIDCOM on Wednesday, Montgomery reported that the disorder affected 12 British towns. Over 400 individuals have been arrested, and 60 special courts have been established to address the situation.
Montgomery emphasized the UK’s commitment to being a liberal and inclusive nation for people of all backgrounds and vowed to pursue justice against those inciting violence through hatred and misinformation online. He reiterated, “We will not, as a country, accept discrimination or attacks against any community.”
Highlighting the positive relations, Montgomery noted that approximately 430,000 Nigerian visa applications were successful this year, advising applicants to apply directly and avoid using agents.
Hon. Dabiri-Erewa confirmed that no Nigerians have been affected by the unrest and reported no casualties according to communications with the Nigerian High Commission and diaspora groups. She reminded Nigerians of the UK travel advisory and urged them to stay safe.
