One Dead After Nigerian Groups Clash in Delhi

In a clash between two opposing Nigerian groups in South Delhi’s Mehrauli area, a 30-year-old African-origin man was stabbed to death on March 9 night. The police identified the victim as Harry.

He was found stabbed to death near the Chhatarpur Mandir. “At about 10.30 pm, three-four persons suspected to be belonging to the same origin (African) came and attacked him with sharp-edged weapons,” said a police officer, according to the Indian Express.

“Soon after stabbing, all the men fled from the scene. The victim after being stabbed came and sat on a bench of a tea stall located near the mandir. A passerby made a PCR call and informed the police. A team reached the spot and rushed him to AIIMS trauma center where he was declared brought dead,” added the officer.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police, South, Romil Baaniya said that their preliminary investigation revealed that two groups of Nigerian people fought on March 9 night. One suspect, a Nigerian, has been “categorically identified by injured, has been detained and is being interrogated.” Baaniya added that names of others have been shared by the injured and the police is on the lookout for them.

The police said that the victim, Harry, stayed in a rented accommodation at Rajpur Khurd village in Mehrauli. The reason for the fight is not known as of now. Teams have been formed to nab the accused, police said.

This is not the first time that Nigerian nationals have clashed against each other in South Delhi. In October 2017, two groups of Nigerian nationals fought inside a hospital in the area. The hospital staff locked themselves inside a bathroom for safety when the fight broke out. The attack’s CCTV video had gone viral and made headlines last year.

The incident happened when three wounded Nigerian nationals visited Sawan Neelu Angel Nursing Hospital in Saket and were followed by a group of 10 or 12 Nigerian nationals. The larger group attacked the there individuals with swords and knives.

The police had nabbed a 38-year-old Nigerian national Bello Leanord from a rented apartment near Sawan Park in Ashok Vihar after the incident.

“Primary investigation indicates that the alleged Nigerian men were from Noida. It was found that the two groups had gone to a restaurant near Mehrauli church and got involved in a fight during which one of them had smashed a beer bottle on a woman’s head. A brawl ensued after that. After the woman was taken to hospital, a youth from rival group too reached there and another fight broke out,” the police had said at the time.