Rufai, Dabiri Clash Over Stranded Nigerian In India

A disagreement has emerged between broadcaster Oseni Rufai and the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, over efforts to assist a Nigerian identified as Ekene, who is reportedly being held at a deportation detention centre in India.

Rufai claimed that he had provided Ekene’s contact details and information about his location at the Lampur detention centre in Sewa Sedan, New Delhi, to NIDCOM and Dabiri-Erewa about a week before the dispute.

According to the broadcaster, Ekene told him that no official from the commission had contacted him after the information was sent.

Dabiri-Erewa, however, said she had instructed Rufai to forward the details through NIDCOM’s official email address so that the commission could take the necessary steps.

The disagreement became public on X after Rufai raised concerns about the handling of Ekene’s situation. He later shared screenshots which he said showed that NIDCOM had acknowledged receiving the information.

Rufai also alleged that Dabiri-Erewa blocked him on X after he questioned the commission’s response.

Dabiri-Erewa confirmed that she blocked Rufai and some other users, attributing the action to what she described as the increasingly toxic nature of interactions on the platform. She maintained that she had directed Rufai to use NIDCOM’s official communication channel and said the commission had responded after receiving his message.

The NIDCOM chairman also stated that additional information on Ekene’s case would be communicated through the commission’s official platforms.

Rufai disputed the timing of the response, claiming that the email from NIDCOM was sent at about 7:59am on Sunday, after he had already taken the matter to the public.

He said he subsequently contacted Ekene again and was informed that the detained Nigerian had still not received any communication from NIDCOM.

Rufai said his main concern was securing Ekene’s return to Nigeria, noting that a Nigerian had offered to provide financial assistance for his flight.

He added that Ekene’s wife and children were in Nigeria and that the detained man had been seeking help to leave the deportation facility.

The broadcaster further claimed that more than 200 Nigerians were still stranded at the deportation camp in India and said he intended to continue drawing attention to their situation.

The dispute comes amid an amnesty arrangement in India that has reportedly helped more than 4,000 Nigerians return home since May 2025. Dabiri-Erewa referred to the returns while responding to concerns over Nigerians who remain in detention.

Rufai, however, maintained that the immediate priority should be helping Ekene and other Nigerians who are still stranded in India.

He appealed to Nigerians willing to assist with Ekene’s travel expenses to come forward, while Dabiri-Erewa directed further updates on the matter to NIDCOM’s official communication channels.