Police in Egypt on Sunday dispersed and later arrested no fewer than 20 Nigerians protesting against police brutality in their home country at the Nigerian Embassy in Cairo.
But Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri, immediately denied the Nigerian government involvement in the Nigerians’ arrest.
Dabiri also said that the Nigerians were not arrested at the Nigerian Embassy but at another location.
In a video that surfaced online, the Nigerians were arrested by police in Egypt while they were chanting solidarity songs.
While the policemen attempted to arrest them, the protesters continuously chanted #EndSARS.
One of the protesters in the video explained to the policemen that the protest was not against the police in Egypt but those in Nigeria.
Another was heard clarifying that by protesting at the Nigerian Embassy, they are believed to be in their country – Nigeria.
A Twitter user, @DrOlufunmilayo, alleged that “Nigerians were having a peaceful protest in Cairo Egypt today (Sunday) and the Nigerian Embassy called Egyptian police to arrest them. 20 people now arrested. How can Nigerians be arrested for peaceful gathering in a Nigerian embassy?”
“Consular to Nigeria Embassy in Cairo, Egypt refused to interact with peaceful protesters. They were all arrested shortly after their demands to speak with the consular,” another tweep, @AdebayoApanpa, added.
When challenged over the arrest, Dabiri, explained that Egypt had its own rules that guide public gathering.