Two arrested for beating up Nigerian student in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, February 6

Two youngsters have been arrested for assaulting a Nigerian student, police said on Saturday as growing racism against African students in the country has triggered outrage.  

Police however deny that the attack was racist, instead saying it was a brawl between Nigerian student Orolabe Ibidola and local youths on Thursday night after the student “stuck” his face inside the window of a woman's car while she was talking to the two youngsters.

"Two local youths—Shoaib Ali and Faizal Ali have been arrested following the complaint lodged by the Nigerian student. However, with regard to the allegation that the local youths passed racial comments against the Nigerian student has not been established," Deputy Commissioner of Police (West Zone) A Venkateshwera Rao said.

"The youngsters said they asked tIbidola why he was interfering after the woman objected," the DCP said.

Ibidola however said he was on his way home on Thursday night when some 10 youngsters passed racist remarks and beat him and two other Nigerians.

A counter complaint from local residents claimed the Nigerian had been involved in a fight. The senior police officer said: "We are inquiring into the complaint".

The incident comes days after a Tanzanian woman claimed she was beaten and forcibly stripped naked by a mob in Bengaluru. The Bengaluru incident has sparked a heated debate about racism in the country.

Mohd Ahmed, a leader of World Organisation of Students and Youths who was among those who participated in the sit-in demonstration to protest the incident in Karnataka’s capital, said: "We just wanted to convey that African students should not be humiliated. Accept us...we have come here to study. Punish those breaking the law but don't humiliate and discriminate against the innocent". — PTI