Ebola: Liberians in Nigeria complain of harassment

The Liberian government has complained that its citizens were being harassed and “stereotyped” in Nigeria following the death in a Lagos hospital of one of its citizens, Patrick Sawyer, infected with Ebola virus.

Liberia's President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Liberian ambassador to Nigeria, Martin George, said: “The attention of our embassy has been brought to several cases of harassment of Liberians especially in Lagos and other places. This harassment borders on stereotyping and sometimes expression of collective guilt.

"Just because the ‘index case’ came from Liberia, so ‘all Liberians in Nigeria have Ebola’. That is the message and people are being harassed”

Speaking during a meeting with the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, held with heads of diplomatic missions in the country on developments on Ebola virus, George also said:“There are law-abiding Liberians living here in Nigeria who have been harassed. So I appeal for your indulgence as you frame the responses especially on the radio talk shows. People have been making all kind of derogatory remarks that have been brought to our attention,” the Liberian diplomat said.

Meanwhile, evidence are emerging that Sawyer tactically escaped quarantine in Liberia, creating belief that he knew he had the virus before coming to Nigeria.

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