What have Nigerians done again?

Yesterday, Monday, March 27, 2017, a mob in Greater Noida, India attacked a Nigerian student according to several news sites from both India and Nigeria.

The video of the attack surfaced on Twitter sparking online comments from Nigerians. This had been a bad few weeks for Nigerians. First, we had the xenophobic attacks in South Africa. The Westminster attacker who raised hell last week was raised by his Nigerian step-father.

The recent attack of a Nigerian student in India begs the question- "why are we so hated in many countries?" It's a cycle we have seen so many times before. A large number of Nigerians migrate to a country, and within a couple of years or more, attacks happen. In the absence of attacks, there is subtle discrimination.

The underlying theme in the discrimination against Nigerians abroad and attacks is that our brothers are involved in crime and drugs. In South Africa, one of the reasons for the xenophobic attacks is that Nigerians are heavily involved in drugs and Internet fraud.

In 2013, an anti-Nigerian banner was put up in the city of Goa. "Say no to Nigerians. Say no to drugs" read the banner. In the same year, a Nigerian Obodo Uzoma Simeon was killed in Goa.

Anti-Nigerian sentiments are rising high in India, a country which has a lot of expatriates here. Irrespective of the crimes committed by certain Nigerians in the populous Asian country, public attacks and murder should not be tolerated.

The Federal Government of Nigeria should change its policy on how it deals with these type of situations. We should have strict measures in place for countries when their citizens attack or kill Nigerians. The attack and killing of a Nigerian should not be condoned for whatsoever reason.

Indians have been coming to our country for decades and they have a large community here. Nigerians are hospitable people and welcome foreigners with open arms. A few of these expatriates are involved in piracy and some of these foreign employers enslave Nigerians in their factories. We don't attack these people nor do we kill them.

Crime shouldn't be encouraged. Nigerians who run afoul of the law abroad should be persecuted. Extra-judicial killings shouldn't be tolerated by the Nigerian government at all. The life of a Nigerian whether home or abroad should be protected at all costs.