Nigeria has raised red flag over the demonization of its citizens in Ghana by the Ghanaian media, stating such reportages have “xenophobic tendencies”.

A statement from the Nigeria High Commission in Ghana subtly protested recent local media reportages which tag Nigerians in the country as ‘criminals’ due to the involvement of some of them in recent crimes.

Police arrests of persons alleged to have involved in recent waves of kidnapping in Ghana have shown the involvement of a few Nigerians, which seems to have caused some Ghanaians to raise concern about the situation.

Local media have highlighted some of the Nigerians in these crimes, but the Nigeria High Commission in Ghana feels the situation has caused disaffection for Nigerians in the country and likely to mar the good relations between the two countries.

It cited some recent headlines –Kidnapping in Ghana: Data shows Nigerians are largely involved in the menace, Two Nigerians shot dead in Upper West, Five Nigerians nabbed for robbery, Nigerians attempting to kidnap 4-year old boy –in the media to assert its claim

“The Ghanaian Press, both print and electronic as well as social media seems to have enjoyed a field day in demonising Nigeria which for all intent and purposes, is seen as a fraternal brother to Ghana,” the statement indicated.

The High Commission stated the issue “has caused untold pains, agony as well as apprehension” to Nigerians in Ghana and fear it could mar the longstanding diplomatic relations between the two countries.

It has thus called on the Ghana media to be highly circumspect in their reportage.

“The ongoing media trial of criminals which was now being turned into a media trial of Nigeria as a country, calls for moderation on the part of media practitioners in Ghana,” the statement added.

It is unclear whether High Commission has made any formal protest with the Ghanaian authorities.