Chairman/chief executive officer of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has called for investigation into the death of a Nigerian student in Malaysia.
The deceased, Thomas Ewansiha, 33, died on July 9 after allegedly having a seizure while being detained by Malaysian immigration authorities.
A statement on Friday by the Immigration Department said Mr Ewansiha was arrested because he had tried to flee from its officers during a raid on July 4.
It was learnt that Ewansiha was detained for 14 days at the Bukit Jalil depot for the officers to verify the authenticity of his student pass.
Mrs Dabiri-Erewa in a statement late Friday said the Nigerian government was saddened by the development.
“We are saddened at the demise of this Nigerian student who was pursuing his Ph.D. in management, at the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Selangor, Malaysia.
“Ewansiha had a valid student pass, but he was still detained for 14 days by the Malaysian authorities until he suffered a seizure while in custody.
“My heart goes out to his family, his young widow and two who’ve suffered such a painful loss.
“I urge the Nigerian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, to open an investigation into the death of Ewansiha. We must ensure that the welfare of our countrymen in Malaysia is not compromised,” the statement said.
Protests have rocked the Nigerian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia, since Thursday after immigration authorities reported the death to the university.
The protesters say the commission had been indifferent to the welfare of its countrymen in Malaysia.
