About 60 Nigerian students have reportedly fled their campus at Goenka University, Gurgoan, India after some group of indigenous Indian students waylaid them.
WikkiTimes gathered that the face-off ensued following a religious conflict between the students.
According to the Times of India, the attack took place last Friday at the students’ hostel after the Indian students accused their Nigerian counterparts of observing prayers on the school’s football pitch. A month before, the students protested against Nigerian students over the same issue.
The protesting students, who were reported to be chanting “Jai Shri Ram” had filed a complaint with the registrar to direct foreign students to offer “namaz” in allotted rooms.
Following the protest, the Times of India further reports that the administration had assured the aggrieved students of resolving the matter.
THE FRIDAY’S CONFLICT
On October 14, 2022, the school convened a football match between the Nigerian and Indian students, WikkiTimes learnt. However, it was reported that a fight broke out after the match as the Indian group attacked Nigerian students with iron rods.
As seen in the video, a group of men clasping iron rods were chasing their foreign counterparts. This forced the foreign students out of the school and they sought safety in Delhi town.
But the Indian police and the university’s management had on Sunday argued that the football match had nothing to do with the protests staged a month ago.
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A Nigerian student, Khaleel who spoke to Times Of India said: “Our captain spoke with the sports officer and laid down his objections against a ‘mixed team’. The officer decided to call off the match. Despite that, a few Indian students entered the field and before anyone could realise a thing, someone hit our captain on the head with an iron rod. Outsiders, who had come on bikes, also joined them and there was a clash. However, the matter was resolved that day.”
“They hurled abuses and threatened us with dire consequences. We are 63 Nigerians here in total. We have left the campus for the time being and are staying in Delhi,” he added.
As of press time, an enquiry sent to Goenka University through a telephone number made available on its website had not been responded to.
