Jailed Nigerians turn down Goan food, want Chinese

MAPUSA: All 26 Nigerians lodged at Aguada central jail have been turning down Goan food provided by the jail authorities and demanding Chinese cuisine, sources said. While some are eating small quantities, others who stayed away from food for a day or so on Wednesday and Thursday, have resumed eating, sources said.

Inspector general of prisons Mihir Vardhan said it's just for a day that the Nigerian inmates of Aguada jail stayed without eating. "As per my information they are eating now," he said.

Sources said the Nigerians claim that Goan food, especially fish curry rice, does not suit them and they have demanded that they should be served at least fried rice.

Sources said the authorities have turned down the Nigerians' plea claiming that if they are served with special food than other inmates too could demand food of their choice.

Additional secretary home Sanjiv Gadkar said they received a letter from the Aguada jail authorities on Thursday stating that the Nigerians at Aguada jail had been refusing to eat in protest of their alleged illegal detention. The home department has instructed jail authorities to admit those who continue with the fast in Goa Medical College (GMC) and Hospital, Bambolim.

North Goa superintendent of police Priyanka Kashyap also confirmed that some Nigerian jail inmates had refrained from eating.

A Mapusa court had remanded 52 Nigerians to judicial custody after they were arrested for obstructing traffic on national highway 17 at Porvorim. The Nigerians were protesting the murder of one of their compatriots in Parra on the intervening night of October 30 to 31. While 26 Nigerians are in Aguada Central jail, the other 26 Nigerians are in Sada jail in Vasco.