Richard Montgomery, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, has given assurance to the Nigerian diaspora in the United Kingdom about their safety amid recent unrest in various cities across the country.
During a meeting with the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Montgomery reassured the community.
In a statement signed by Gabriel Odu from the media and Public Relations Unit of the commission, Montgomery addressed concerns about the disturbances affecting 12 towns in the UK.
The UK government is taking steps to restore order, including establishing a special task force of 60 courts with police and legal operatives to handle criminal activities linked to the unrest, as revealed by Montgomery.
Emphasizing the UK’s commitment to inclusivity and tolerance, Montgomery reiterated that any form of discrimination or attacks against communities will not be tolerated.
He also mentioned that the government is actively working to tackle online incitement and misinformation.
In the statement, Montgomery shared that approximately 430,000 Nigerian visa applications were approved this year and advised applicants to apply directly and be cautious when engaging with agents.
Commending the swift response of the UK government, Dabiri-Erewa noted that, so far, no Nigerians have been reported harmed or affected by the disturbances.
She highlighted the importance of following the travel advisory issued by Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and advised Nigerians in the UK to remain vigilant and careful.
The meeting was attended by British Deputy High Commissioner Gill Lever, First Secretary Political Natalie Palmer, and staff members from NIDCOM.
Countries like Nigeria, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, and Canada have cautioned their citizens against traveling to the United Kingdom due to the violent riots.
Triggered by a knife attack at a children’s dance class in Southport, northwest England, last Monday, resulting in the deaths of three girls and injuries to ten others, the unrest has led to widespread protests fueled by misinformation regarding the attacker’s identity as an immigrant and radical Islamist. Police clarified that the suspect, a British-born individual, is not being treated as a terrorist.
Reportedly, over 420 arrests have been made as social media-fueled riots spread across the UK. In an incident, a hotel housing asylum seekers in Rotherham, near Sheffield, was petrol-bombed, leading to confrontations with police and injuries to ten riot officers.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to take decisive action to bring the perpetrators to justice, as he addressed the nation recently.