The Senate has ordered the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, to commence investigation and prosecution of foreigners who torment Nigerians at work places across the country.
Senator Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo at the senate plenary moved a motion for the urgent need to contain the alarming trend of inhuman treatment and torture of Nigerian citizens by foreign nationals at places of work in the country. Senator Degi-Eremienyo lamented that brutal treatment of one Friday Ndubuisi, a worker with a security company, and two others, including a Chadian, senconded to another security outfit in Gudu District of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The senator decried that the security staff were brutalised over an allegation that they stole iron rods. One of the security guards, a Chadian national, died in the process.
The senator disclosed that a Lebanese national who works with one of the companies had ordered and effected the torture of the Nigerians to force them to confess to the accusation.
The Lebanese had ordered some Nigerian senior staff in the company to tie up the mouth of Ndubuisi and the two security guards with rags to prevent any noise, while they were beaten mercilessly with iron rods, tied to a car, and driven round the company premises. The brutal Lebanese was said to have let loose his dog to attack the guards under torment.
During deliberations, Senator Isah Jibrin that several of such cases have occurred over time; lamenting, “But they are never reported because of fear of further victimization.” The senator declared: “I, on this note, second the motion.”
The Senate condemned the brutalization of Nigerians by foreign employers, noting that the FCT incident was the height of man’s inhumanity to his fellow being.
The senate, therefore, directed that the Inspector general of Police to thoroughly investigate the said acts of the Lebanese, his dog, and similar infractions by other foreign nationals acting by themselves or in collusion with Nigerians or police personnel.
“Upon conclusion of investigations, those found culpable should be prosecuted in accordance with our laws to serve as a deterrent to others,” the senate mandated.
The senate further enjoined the Ministry of Labour and Employment, all relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to take adequate steps to address the labour-related issues in respect of the incident and similar cases to curb the trend.