The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has appealed for calm following protests by some Ghanaians alleging that Nigerians are responsible for rising crime in their country.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, NiDCOM Chairman/CEO, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, rejected what she described as the “blanket” generalisation of Nigerians as criminals in Ghana.

“Nigerians are not criminals. They are good ambassadors wherever they find themselves while those bad ones should be fished out to face necessary sanctions,” she stated, according to a release signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the agency’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols.

A viral video had earlier surfaced showing Ghanaians protesting and demanding the expulsion of Nigerians, accusing them of violating Ghanaian norms.

In response, Dabiri-Erewa urged Nigerians living in Ghana not to be provoked or resort to violence, assuring them that the matter was being handled diplomatically.

“Ghana and Nigeria are like Siamese twins. They are brothers and in the spirit of ECOWAS and regional integration should continue to live in peace like brothers,” she said.

She also advised against inflammatory rhetoric from either side, warning that “such comments can escalate matters.”

Dabiri-Erewa dismissed unverified claims that Nigerians’ shops and properties were being destroyed, stating: “There is no evidence to that and we must at all cost try to prevent any reprisal attacks.”