Nigerian students studying in GD Goenka University in Gurugam were brutalised after a football match ended in violence.
About 63 Nigerian students were either assaulted on the field and in their hostels and had to flee the private institution to seek shelter at the Nigerian embassy in New Delhi and other places they could be safe.
According to one of the Students named Khaleel, trouble started on Friday, when the university decided to have both Indian and Nigerian students in one team. “Our captain spoke with the sports officer and laid down his objections against a ‘mixed team’. The officer decided to call off the match. Despite that, a few Indian students entered the field and before anyone could realise a thing, someone hit our captain on the head with an iron rod.
“Outsiders, who had come on bikes, also joined them and there was a clash. However, the matter was resolved that day itself,” he told Times of India.
“They hurled abuses and threatened us with dire consequences. We are 63 Nigerians here in total. We have left the campus for the time being and are staying in Delhi,” he added.
It was reported that before the incident Indian Students had protested against their Nigerian colleagues who were fond of praying before football games. They urged the Nigerians to pray only in their rooms.
Speaking on the incident Nigerians in Diaspora Commission chairperson Abike Dabiri-Erewa said sitution has returned to normal even as the University has suspended 10 students involved in the fracas.
“There is already a written commitment by the Indian Authorities to protect our students. Any student feeling threatened should please report to the Nigerian Mission in Delhi immediately,” she tweeted Monday.
“Calm has returned to the campus. A few injuries were recorded and further investigations are ongoing. The Nigerian Mission had made it clear that the Indian authorities would be held responsible if anything happens to any of the students.”
