Amid rising tension following a protest in Ghana demanding the deportation of Nigerians, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has called for calm and warned against the spread of misinformation that could incite violence.

The protest, captured in a viral social media video, showed some Ghanaians urging their government to expel Nigerians over claims that their behaviour was incompatible with Ghanaian norms.

NIDCOM Chairman/CEO, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, while reacting in a statement by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the agency’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, condemned the generalisation of Nigerians as criminals and emphasised the long-standing relationship between both countries.

“Nigerians are not criminals. They are good ambassadors wherever they find themselves, while those bad ones should be fished out to face necessary sanctions,” Dabiri-Erewa stated.

She stressed that Ghana and Nigeria share deep historical and cultural ties, saying, “Ghana and Nigeria are like Siamese twins. They are brothers and in the spirit of ECOWAS and regional integration, should continue to live in peace like brothers.”

Dabiri-Erewa urged Nigerians living in Ghana not to retaliate or engage in violence, noting that the issue is being addressed through diplomatic channels by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu.

She also called on individuals on both sides to refrain from using inflammatory language that could escalate the situation.

Reacting to unverified videos claiming attacks on Nigerian-owned shops and properties in Ghana, the NIDCOM boss said there was no evidence to support such claims and warned against spreading false information that could lead to reprisals.

She commended the efforts of the Nigerian and Ghanaian High Commissioners in containing the situation and confirmed that the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs has been in contact with Ghanaian authorities and is taking proactive steps to address the matter.