Families of more than 270 Nigerians detained in Ethiopia’s Kalite Prison have appealed to the Federal Government for urgent intervention.
The detainees, who have reportedly been in custody for long, are said to be enduring harsh conditions, including inadequate food, poor medical care, brutality, and extortion by prison officials. Some are also battling severe health challenges.
Speaking on behalf of the families, President General of My Dreamalive Development Foundation, Onwuka Ifeanyi Collins, in a statement, urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Assembly, state governors, and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) to act swiftly.
He called on the authorities to activate the Prisoner Transfer Arrangement already signed with Ethiopia to end the detainees’ ordeal.
Meanwhile, NiDCOM said it received with “deep distress and utter dismay” reports alleging rape, assault, and forced administration of unknown substances on Nigerian girls held in deportation camps in New Delhi, India.
In a statement by its Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the Chairman/CEO of the Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, condemned the abuses, saying: “Nigerian citizens, wherever they are in the world, must not be treated as less than human, nor should their vulnerability be exploited under the guise of immigration procedures.
“We are further alarmed by claims that corrupt practices involving middlemen and certain groups are worsening the plight of our citizens through exploitation and extortion. If verified, such actions not only endanger lives but also undermine justice and due process.”
NiDCOM assured victims and their families that the disturbing reports would not be ignored.
