Nigerian House of Representatives wants probe in Goa incident

The Nigerian House of Representatives on Wednesday mandated its committees on foreign affairs and diaspora to investigate circumstances surrounding the murder of Nigerian national Obado Uzoma Simeon and the subsequent arrest of 53 other Nigerians in Goa.

The resolution came following a motion of urgent national interest moved by Yusuf Ayo Tajudeen, entitled "gruesome murder of a Nigerian and illegal incarceration of 53 Nigerians in India". The lawmaker said, "One Nigerian was allegedly killed and five others severely wounded on October 31, in Goa, by people suspected to be members of a local drug cartel."

Simeon was found murdered in Parra on October 31 in what, police said, was related to a drug war. Protesting police inaction to arrest the assailants when the registration numbers of their vehicles had been given to the police, Nigerians obstructed police from carrying out the panchanama at Parra. They then followed the hearse van, stopped it a Porvorim, pulled out Simeon's body and paralyzed traffic on national highway 17 for hours.

The lawmaker described this as "a peaceful and legitimate protest" by Nigerians against the murder of their compatriot. He also alleged that "the police, acting on the orders of Goa's chief minister Manohar Parrikar forcefully arrested and incarcerated 53 Nigerians living and working in the Goa region of India".