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By Nasir Kura
The federal government said Tuesday that the five Nigerians that allegedly robbed a bureau de change in Sharjah of Dh2.3 million are a disgrace to the country and their families.
The five men were caught on camera smashing the glass barrier between the customers and the staff of the bureau de change, and carting away money in different currencies.
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora, Ms Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who disclosed this while addressing State House correspondents on Tuesday, said five Nigerians are Chimuanya Emmanuel Ozo, Benjamin Nwachukwu Ajah, Kingsley Ikenna Ngoka, Toochukwu Leonard Arusi and Chile Micah Ndunagu.
“These five boys are a disgrace to this country and an embarrassment. So if UAE decide to be hard on Nigerians then we will complain that they are hard on us. But we will continue to say that one bad apple should not spoil the whole bunch.
“Nigerians are hardworking, intelligent so these few should not spoil the whole bunch because this has made news all over the UAE now. We are going to continue to name those who disgrace the country anywhere in the world and we will continue to appeal to Nigerians to be good ambassadors wherever they find themselves,” he said.
On the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, Dabiri-Erewa said: “In the case of South Africa you need to break it down. We have xenophobic attacks which just happened recently and affected more of Malawians. I’m sure you heard the President of South Africa when he came here, it is an embarrassment to South Africa, it is not something they are happy about and he said everything will be done to curb it. A lot of awareness must be put in place.
“The second case, is Nigerians killing Nigerians. We are having Nigerians taking drugs and cult wars to South Africa. The last killing of a Nigerian was by a fellow Nigerian. We have the names of the various cult groups and there are drug related. So, you cannot take that to another man’s country and expect that they will not be happy with you.
“Nigerians killing Nigerians in South Africa, that is another disgraceful act. Nigerian community in South Africa must get involved, they know these organizations, they live among them. Recall the one that happened in Anambra was a fall out of that. In the case of South Africa, four policemen have been charged for their involvement in killings of Nigerians with the intervention of Mr. President,” she said.
