The Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Mr Michael Olufemi Abikoye, has questioned the style of reporting by the Ghanaian media regarding the involvement of some Nigerians in kidnapping cases in Ghana.
He said linking Nigerians to the kidnappings has caused pain to Nigerians living in and out of Ghana.
Nigerian nationals have been linked to six major kidnapping cases in Ghana since August last year.
Mr Samuel-Udoetuk Willis, a Nigerian who is currently in police custody, is the main suspect in the kidnapping of three girls in Takoradi in the Western Region. A second Nigerian suspect, John Oji is also on trial for the same crime.
Three Nigerians and five Ghanaians were also involved in the kidnapping of two Canadians who were rescued last week in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
Three Nigerians are also on the run in connection with the kidnapping of a Lebanese diplomat Nabil Makram Basbous, the Consular-General and Head of Mission of Estonia to Ghana at Labone in April this year.
Some Nigerians were also arrested at Kasoa in the Central Region in connection with the kidnapping and killing of a two-year-old Ghanaian boy in that area also in April.
Additionally, some Nigerian nationals are suspected to be behind the kidnapping of an Indian businessman in Kumasi in April this year.
Just on Sunday, 16 June 2019, another Nigerian suspect was arrested at Mamobi in Accra for trying to kidnap a four-year-old Ghanaian boy.
Some Ghanaians on various social media platforms have expressed anger at the current trend of kidnappings involving Nigerian suspects.
But in a statement, the Nigerian High Commissioner said: “The Ghanaian press, both print and electronic, as well as social media seem to have enjoyed a field day in demonising Nigeria, which, for all intents and purposes, is seen as a fraternal brother to Ghana”.
This line of reportage “has caused untold pain, agony as well as apprehension” to Nigerians in Ghana.
He said, “This has compelled it to appeal to local traditional media and social media to be highly circumspect in such reportage.”
“The ongoing media trial of criminals which was now being turned into a media trial of Nigeria as a country, calls for moderation on the part of media practitioners in Ghana.”
”Suffice to say that at times like this, a situation where five (5) Ghanaians in the company of three (3) Nigerians allegedly kidnapped two (2) Canadians but seems to enjoy wider press coverage as a crime committed by the Nigerians and considers Ghanaians only as accomplices leaves much to be desired on the objectivity of such report.
“Moreover, such media trials could be seen as prejudicial to the outcome of the ongoing prosecution in court which sees them as innocent until proven guilty. On this note, the Nigeria High Commission wishes to reiterate its stand that whoever commits a crime and is found guilty must face the consequences of his/her action. For its part, the High Commission will continue to mobilise all Nigerians living in Ghana to obey the domestic laws. The High Commission is also in touch with all relevant host authorities with a view to amicably resolve the issue,” the statement added.
It further said: “This has become highly imperative in view of its larger implications on Nigerians living in Ghana and Ghanaians living in Nigeria as well. Moreover, the excellent relations that subsist between Nigeria and Ghana as maternal brotherly countries under His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari and his brother, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo can never be allowed to be jeopardised by xenophobic tendencies over such intents”.
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The Government should be very mindful of what Dr. Danso said-warning about the possibility of the various, notorious criminal acts in Ghana today being instigated, so as to make the Government look bad and castigated as incompetent.That Nigerian Prof could easily be bought to do what he did. If you take your own counsel dispassionately, you will realize that NDC as an opposition Party today, can never win election in Ghana based on informed-issues without applying foul means. The notorious, rampant and baseless attacks on the EC give course of alarm. Then, I have not heard NDC discuss policies based on her Party-Philosophy and tradition. Aside being mischievous, fabricating her own lies based on her own imaginations and feeding on them for propaganda purposes.
A GOOD SUGGESTION IF A NIGERIAN IS CAUGHT IN THESE ACTS PLEASA DON'T REPORTOR SAY ANYTHING IN THE MEDIA OR TO COURT VANISH HIM. THE SAME TO GHANAIANS AND SEE WHO WOULD BE AFFECTED THE MOST.
ANOTHER NIGERIAN F0=0!i$h 1d!0t. First it was a so called educated 1mb£c1le and now a whole pea size brain sub-standard ambassador. Is Nigeria a Country blessed with so many natural and intellectual wealth be so cu=r$ed? Are the following men of substance Nigerians? Prof. Wole Sonyinka, Chinua Achebe, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Rich man Dangote. You Nigerains have more to project and promote as a Country but choose to d1$respect and disregard laws of any country Nigerians find themselves in. Crime precedes every thought of a low life Nigerian. Shame on the kw==a$ia ambassador and the tier 20 professor.
Instead of wisely choosing to rather educate your "out-of-hand-greƐdy-countrymen" to desist from committing heartless and despicable crimƐs wherever they are, you fo0lishly elect to waste your own time by engaging in such a low grade and tasteless comical "performance". Obviously, you come across as a confused "chew and pour" diplomatic idi0t exhibiting "trial and error" proficiency. Well, you may be pleased to know that this has uncomplicatedly unmasked your stup1dity. And even a pre-school kid given this amateurish script to toy with (grade) would not hesitate to correctly fail you miserably. HUMBLE ADVICE By the way, may I humbly suggest that you have a read of the statement (Dated: 30 May 2019) issued by our MoFA following the "dodgy" deportation of four of our citizens from your country a while ago. Perhaps this sign-post(ing) would lead you to the greener pastures of intellectual diplomacy. At least in our communique - and being very mature in this field, - you would find that the core emphasis was on the need for our citizens to always avoid any infractions of the laws of a host country....... How cool is that, ......That's mature diplomacy at its best, isn't it? ...... A word to the wise is enough. HUMBLE ADVICE By the way, may I humbly suggest that you have a read of the statement (Dated: 30 May 2019) issued by our MoFA following the "dodgy" deportation of four of our citizens from your country a while ago. Perhaps this sign-post(ing) would lead you to the greener pastures of intellectual diplomacy. At least in our communique - and being very mature in this field, - you would find that the core emphasis was on the need for our citizens to always avoid any infractions of the laws of a host country....... How cool is that, ......That's mature diplomacy at its best, isn't it? ...... A word to the wise is enough.
Nigerians are fraternal brothers indeed. Says who? The kidnappings are not of concern to you but rather the bad name your countrymen are enjoying. Please leave our country for us in peace. You have ruined your own country and the place is a mess. Crime is the only thing Nigerians do for a living and they want to teach their supposed FRATENAL BROTHERS THEY HAVE ADOPTED BY FOIRCE. We don't want them here, they should go back to their dirty country.
Mr commissioner..for your information..most of your Nigerians living in Ghana are criminals, ***barred word***, womanizers, armed robbers and fraudsters. and this is evidences in our daily news. pls find out from them why they are sleeping and idling about during the day whiles they are very active at night. my advice to you is that engage them to be lawful visitors to our beloved country
Mr Ambassador I am highly disappointed in you. What I expected you to say is that you will work with the Ghanaian authorities to up root the few bad nuts who are giving Nigerians a bad name.,instead of blaming the press.The press simply report what happens so if a group of individuals engage in kidnapping people and there are Nigerians involved should the press say no these are not Nigerians they are from Papua New Guinea?Recently in a suburb of Accra 9 Nigerians were arrested and about 50 laptops were seized from them. mr Ambassador would you say these people work for Google?Never mind the fact that Ghanaians are also involved in committing crime,leave that for us because that is our problem.There are many Nigerians living here who are quietly doing legitimate business and are not bothered by ANYONE.
The indiscreet high commissioner should have rather appealed to these errant Nigerians to change their ways for the better. You are rather here trying to justify their KRIMINAL actions with what ....phobia? Nan***barred word***. From now on the police to shoot to kill any Nigerian found to be flouting the laws of our country. Your country is sooo corrupt and crime infested that you don't find comfortable any longer to live in. Don't take our hospitality for our weakness.
A fact he keeps skipping out is that: there are other nationals in this country, but they are not being mentioned in this regard. Ghanaians are not saying Africans are kidnapping people but being specific to the fact that Nigerians are boldly doing this because they know Ghanaians are peaceful and 'soft'. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs needs to do something drastic about this. Nigerians were bold enough to deport Ghanaians in 1983, so it shouldn't be a big deal for us too.
If it were to be left with me alone, All nigerians must be deported to their country. They are not doing anything important in our country except using the name of Ghanaians committing all kinds of crimes.