By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
Two Nigerian nationals who escaped from a prison in Nepal during anti-government protests have been rearrested by India’s paramilitary force, the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB).
According to the Press Trust of India, the suspects were caught on Saturday in Jainagar, Bihar State, while trying to cross the border back into Nepal. They were among several inmates—both locals and foreign nationals, who fled detention amid weeks of violent demonstrations across the Himalayan nation.
A security source told PTI: “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 over 79 escapees, including other foreign nationals, have been arrested across Indian states that share borders with Nepal. Officials noted the operation was necessary because the 1,751-kilometre India-Nepal border, spanning 20 districts across five states, remains largely unfenced.
The arrest of the two Nigerians has once again raised concerns over the involvement of Nigerian nationals in transnational crimes in Asia. Last month, police in Kozhikode City, India, arrested eight Nigerians for alleged drug trafficking. According to The Hindu, the suspects played key roles in a larger syndicate that operated across India, with a synthetic drug production unit discovered in Gurugram, Haryana.
Authorities continue to monitor cross-border crime, highlighting the challenges posed by poorly secured borders and the activities of international criminal networks.