Nigerians in Aarey Colony told to vacate flats in 15 days

Twenty-five Nigerian students living in Aarey Colony were served notices by their real estate agents, asking them to vacate the flats within 15 days, sparking off a protest by the students at the local police station.

Agitated by the notice, Maureen Ijeoma said, "It is extremely difficult to find an accommodation in this city because nobody wants to rent out their house to a black person. Such a notice is humiliating and unfair."

The real estate agents are apparently passing the buck on to the police, claiming that in a meeting held on August 27 between them and the police, the latter gave them a general instruction, asking them not to entertain Nigerians as they are often involved with "online crimes and drug peddling".

ACP Kishor Jadhav, however, said, "We cannot issue such an order. We merely asked the agents to look into the documents of the occupants, regardless of their nationality, as many foreigners often extend their stay illegally. In fact, the law requires that documents be submitted to a local police station when a house is given on rent, as a precaution against terrorists. This notice must be the agents way of increasing their business."