Dabiri-Erewa expressed her condolences to the family of the deceased and the Nigerian community in Luxembourg, assuring them that the Commission would collaborate with relevant authorities to uncover the truth and ensure justice is served.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has pledged to work with the Nigerian Embassy in Belgium to demand a full investigation into the death of a Nigerian national, Daniel Eheri, who reportedly died while in police custody in Luxembourg.

In a statement issued by the Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols Unit, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, on Wednesday, the Chairman and CEO of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, strongly condemned the alleged circumstances surrounding Eheri’s death.

Dabiri-Erewa expressed her condolences to the family of the deceased and the Nigerian community in Luxembourg, assuring them that the Commission would collaborate with relevant authorities to uncover the truth and ensure justice is served.

She stated that the Commission would work with the Nigerian Embassy in Luxembourg to demand a thorough investigation.

The Nigerian community in Luxembourg had earlier submitted a formal petition to the Federal Government of Nigeria, calling for an urgent and transparent probe into what they described as an alleged extrajudicial killing of Daniel Eheri, who was reportedly arrested and later died in the custody of the Luxembourg Police Grand-Ducale.

The petition, addressed to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, was signed by the National Coordinator of the Nigerian Community in Luxembourg, Mr. Sunday Adekolu.

In the letter titled “Case of an Extrajudicial Killing of a Nigerian by the Police Authority of Luxembourg,” Adekolu appealed to the Nigerian government and the Commission to urgently investigate the circumstances surrounding Eheri’s death, warning that the incident must not be swept under the carpet.

He explained that the late Eheri, a Nigerian resident in Luxembourg and holder of a residence permit, was arrested by Luxembourg police on 10 February 2025 while carrying foodstuffs. By the following day, he was confirmed dead in police custody.

Adekolu further alleged that since the confirmation of Eheri’s death, the Luxembourg police have not provided any explanation regarding the circumstances that led to his demise, nor have they conducted an autopsy, as would be expected under international standards.

He said, “To prevent a recurrence of such a dastardly act of inhumanity against our people here in Luxembourg, there must be transparency and justice in the handling of this case.”

The letter reads in part: “We write to bring to your attention the unfortunate demise of EHERI Daniel while in the custody of the Grand-Ducal Police (Police Grand-Ducale) of Luxembourg since 11 February 2025.

“The late Eheri Daniel was a Nigerian with an untainted record in Luxembourg and a holder of a residence permit. He was arrested by the Luxembourg Police Grand-Ducale on 10 February 2025 while carrying foodstuffs, and by the following day, he was confirmed dead.

“Since the occurrence of this unfortunate incident, the police authorities in Luxembourg have not deemed it necessary to set up an inquiry into the circumstances of his death, nor have they conducted an autopsy in line with international standards.”

Adekolu also disclosed that the Nigerian Ambassador to Belgium, Ambassador Obinna Chiedu Onowu, who oversees Luxembourg, had been contacted by concerned Nigerians in the country. However, he noted that the ambassador’s efforts had been rebuffed, as there had been no official response to his two letters on the matter.

“We, the Nigerian Community in Luxembourg, hereby seek your urgent assistance on this matter—to set the record straight, to persuade the Luxembourg Police Grand-Ducale to conduct an autopsy on the remains of EHERI DANIEL, and to sensitise the Luxembourg Police on measures that must be taken to prevent the recurrence of such a dastardly act of inhumanity against Nigerians in Luxembourg,” the letter concluded.

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