Nigerians in India allege police brutality, visa discrimination, demand FG intervention

Some Nigerians living in India have raised fresh concerns over what they describe as growing racial profiling, police brutality and harsh immigration policies, calling for urgent diplomatic intervention by the Federal Government.

The allegations, which cut across students and business owners, include claims of physical assaults, arbitrary arrests, discriminatory visa policies and economic targeting, painting a troubling picture of life for many Nigerians in the Asian country.

Several affected Nigerians said the situation had worsened in recent months, with some alleging that reporting abuses to local authorities had yielded little or no results.

Some students claimed they had been physically assaulted, while others cited frequent harassment by law enforcement agents, particularly over visa-related issues.

The concerns come amid growing agitation from student bodies, including the National Association of Nigerian Students, which recently staged a protest at the Indian High Commission.

During the demonstration, the association issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding immediate diplomatic engagement or risk nationwide escalation of protests.

Abubakar Mallawa, NANS Vice President (Special Duties), said the group had received multiple distress reports, especially from Nigerians in Mumbai, detailing “systematic profiling, visa challenges and discriminatory practices.”

According to him, affected Nigerians, many of whom are students or legitimate business operators, have faced denial of accommodation based on nationality, closure of Nigerian-owned businesses, confiscation of goods and, in some cases, forceful entry into homes by security agents.

He noted that a major source of grievance is India’s visa regime for Nigerians, which students say is both costly and restrictive.

Abisola Williams, a physiotherapy student based in Rajasthan, explained that international students in India are required to renew their visas frequently, with no pathway to permanent residency.

“It’s either you’re a student or a professional with a work visa. Nigerians must renew their visas annually, and failure to meet academic or financial requirements can lead to denial,” she said.

Another Nigerian student in Delhi alleged that Nigerians are required to pay about 10,000 rupees (approximately N146,000) every three months for visa renewal, significantly higher than what is charged to students from other African countries.

She claimed that while Zimbabwean students reportedly pay nothing and Ghanaians pay far less, Nigerians face stricter timelines and higher financial burdens.

The student also alleged that many were unaware of these charges until after arriving in India, adding that failure to renew visas promptly often led to police tracking, arrests and, in some cases, deportation.

“I have seen students bullied and harassed. Anything that goes wrong is attributed to Nigerians,” she said.

Checks revealed that Indian authorities arrested 660 foreign nationals for drug-related offences in 2024, with 106 Nigerians ranking second among those arrested, behind Nepal.

Between 2019 and 2024, no fewer than 2,356 Nigerians were deported from India, with removals rising sharply from 339 in 2021 to 1,470 in the 2023–2024 fiscal year.