Two Nigerians who allegedly escaped from a Nepalese prison during recent anti-government protests have been apprehended by India’s paramilitary force, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
According to a report by the Press Trust of India on Monday, the suspects were arrested on Saturday at Jainagar in Bihar while attempting to cross the border into Nepal.
The Nigerians were reportedly among several foreign nationals and locals who fled detention facilities in Nepal following violent demonstrations in recent weeks.
A security source told the news agency, “These individuals have been caught from the border over the last three to four days after escaping from various jails following the massive anti-government protests in Nepal.”
The SSB revealed that more than 79 escapees, including other foreign nationals, have been arrested across different Indian states bordering Nepal. Officials noted that the heightened security measures are necessary as the India-Nepal border, spanning 1,751 kilometres across 20 districts in five states, remains largely unfenced.
The arrest of the two Nigerians has drawn renewed attention to the involvement of Nigerian nationals in transnational crimes across Asia, a trend that has raised concerns among authorities in recent years.
In August, PUNCH Metro reported that Indian police in Kozhikode City arrested eight Nigerians allegedly involved in drug trafficking. According to The Hindu, the suspects reportedly played key roles in a larger drug syndicate operating across India.
Working with state-level squads, police uncovered a synthetic drug production unit in Gurugram, Haryana, with assistance from Delhi and Haryana law enforcement teams.
