70 arrested Chinese released in Nigeria (Lead)
May 24th, 2012 - 6:00 pm ICT by IANSBeijing, May 24 (IANS) Nigeria has released around 70 Chinese who were arrested for illegally living and working in the country, a Chinese foreign ministry official said Thursday.
Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the Chinese were arrested by Nigeria’s immigration authority, Xinhua reported.
The Chinese embassy and General Consulate were negotiating on the issue, he said, adding that Nigeria has been urged to handle the case carefully according to law.
The embassy would continue to offer consular assistance to those who may face repatriation, he said.
Earlier, the Shanghai Daily reported that 45 Chinese — 34 men and 11 women — were arrested Tuesday in a textile market in northern Kano state in a government crackdown on illegal migrants.
They were arrested for their involvement in illegal textile trade, and for taking jobs that belonged to local Nigerians, said the chief of the immigration department in Kano.
But the Nigerian official denied the crackdown was targeted just at Chinese people.
- 45 Chinese arrested in Nigeria - May 24, 2012
- China values ties with India - Jan 05, 2012
- Tunisia and Italy agree to curb illegal immigration - Apr 07, 2011
- Indian among 160 killed in Nigeria terror attack (Second Lead) - Jan 22, 2012
- Indian diplomat secretly tried to take away two Indians: Paper - Jan 05, 2012
- Indian, 161 others die in Mumbai-style Nigeria terror (Third Lead) - Jan 22, 2012
- Indian killed, six Indians hurt in Nigeria terror attack (Lead) - Jan 22, 2012
- Nigeria terror: Government to bring home Indian's body - Jan 23, 2012
- India secures release of its traders trapped in China (Lead) - Jan 04, 2012
- Hundreds feared dead after Nigerian jet crashes in Lagos - Jun 04, 2012
- Japan to buy disputed islands - Sep 05, 2012
- 190 Pakistanis deported from US during last two years following detention - Feb 04, 2011
- Nigeria terror attack toll rises to 162 - Jan 22, 2012
- Nigeria violence toll rises to 185 - Jan 24, 2012
- China, France bust illegal immigration network - Aug 06, 2010
Tags: beijing, chinese embassy, consular assistance, foreign ministry, government crackdown, illegal migrants, immigration authority, immigration department, jobs, kano state, may 24, ministry official, ministry spokesman, nigeria, nigerians, repatriation, shanghai, textile market, textile trade, xinhua