Gen Z Protest: Two Nigerian Prison Escapees from Nepal Rearrested at India-Nepal Border

Two Nigerians who allegedly escaped from a prison in Nepal during recent anti-government protests have been rearrested by India’s paramilitary force, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).

According to a Press Trust of India report, the suspects were apprehended on Saturday at Jainagar in Bihar while attempting to cross back into Nepal. They were among several foreign nationals and locals who fled detention facilities amid violent demonstrations in Nepal in recent weeks.

A security source told the agency, “These people have been caught from the border over the last three to four days after they escaped from various jails following the massive anti-government protests in Nepal.”

The SSB said that more than 79 escapees, including other foreign nationals, have been arrested across Indian states bordering Nepal. Officials stressed that the heightened security measures were necessary due to the largely unfenced 1,751-kilometre India-Nepal border, which spans 20 districts across five states.

The arrest of the two Nigerians has reignited concerns over the involvement of Nigerian nationals in transnational crimes across Asia. In August, Indian police in Kozhikode City arrested eight Nigerians allegedly linked to a drug trafficking network operating across the country. Police discovered a synthetic drug production unit in Gurugram, Haryana, with assistance from teams in Delhi and Haryana.