Nigerian envoy sent offensive SMSes to cop: Parrikar

Said the diplomat who had reportedly warned of "repercussions" against Indians living in Nigeria if his fellow countrymen were harassed did not even come through a proper channel

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar today accused a Nigerian diplomat of sending "offensive SMSes" to a senior police officer over the controversy relating to the killing of a Nigerian national whose death had sparked protests by his compatriots here.

 

"He (the diplomat) was wrongly briefed who went to the extent of sending offensive SMSes to our Superintendent of Police," Parrikar told reporters at Vasco town, without naming the diplomat.

 

A Nigerian diplomat, who was recently in Goa, had reportedly warned of "repercussions" against Indians living in Nigeria if his fellow countrymen were harassed in Goa.

 

Parrikar said the diplomat who arrived in Goa, had not come through a proper channel.

 

"As a foreign diplomat, he should have come through the Ministry of External Affairs. I never got any communication that anyone is coming," the chief minister said.

 

He said the "misunderstanding" between Nigeria and India is a fallout of wrong media reporting.

 

"I never said that Nigerians would be deported, but what I had said was that illegally staying foreigners including Nigerians would be deported," Parrikar said.

 

Nigeria had earlier issued a note verbale to India conveying concerns over the security of its nationals and demanded immediate arrest of those who killed a Nigerian in Goa last week, prompting the government to assure it that all issues will be addressed in a cooperative manner.

 

The Centre yesterday said it was in "diplomatic dialogue" with Nigeria after that country raised the killing of one of its nationals in Goa and noted that it was expecting a report from the state government in the matter.

 

The state police had also arrested a Goan youth in connection with the killing of the Nigerian national on October 31 which sparked protests by his fellowmen.

 

The special investigation squad arrested Surendra Pal on Tuesday night in connection with the killing of Obodo Uzoma Simeon from Chapora, a beachside village in north Goa.

 

Parrikar had earlier claimed the murder as a drug-related crime.