Will act against Nigerian's killers, Goa tells Centre

PANAJI: The Goa government, in its report submitted to the Union ministry of external affairs (MEA) on Wednesday, assured the Union government that action will be taken against the murderers of Nigerian national Obado Uzoma Simeon. The murder and its aftermath that led to the arrest of 53 Nigerians for rioting and attempt to murder, straining India-Nigeria relations.

The report also says that the state government is willing to withdraw cases against all the arrested Nigerians, who do not have valid travel documents, if they are willing to leave the country. The state government has highlighted three key issues in its report-murder of the Nigerian, rioting by Nigerians at Porvorim and foreigners staying illegally in the state.

Speaking to TOI, chief minister Manohar Parrikar said the government has informed MEA that they have identified the perpetrators in the murder of Nigerian and action will be taken.

Regarding the rioting and attempt to murder case against 53 Nigerians at Parra and Porvorim, Parrikar said, "Police have verified their documents, except for a very few, most of them do not have proper documents and if these are ready to be deported then the state government is ready to drop the charges against them." Cases will continue against those arrested and whose travel documents are valid.

On the crackdown on foreigners staying illegally in the state, the Goa government report stated that such foreigners should be deported from the country. The Nigerian consular official's statement that Indians in Nigeria might face repercussions, if Goa doesn't stop "evicting Nigerians" from the state and does not immediately arrest the assailants of the Nigerian national who was murdered in Parra last week, also figures in the report.

"We have brought this statement to the notice of the central government and it is for the central government to act on the Nigerian consular official's statement," Parrikar said.

He also said that the state government has filed cases against locals but action would be taken only against those involved in criminal activists and not against those who had just come out on the road. The Centre on Tuesday had leaned on the Goa government to submit a fresh report shortly on the death of a Nigerian national in Goa that has sparked a diplomatic incident.

Goa assures Union government of action against the murderers of the Nigerian national

State willing to drop charges if arrested Nigerians without valid documents willing to leave country

Government says foreigners staying illegally in state should be deported

Brings to notice of Union government statement made by Nigeria's consular official