Growing concerns over the treatment of Nigerian detainees abroad have intensified, spotlighting the grim conditions for citizens in Ethiopia’s Kaliti Prison, Addis Ababa. Dr. Paul Ezike’s recent video thrusts these hardships into the limelight, resonating with earlier distress signals from countries like China, Libya, and other Asian nations.
Ezike’s video recounts chilling experiences, raising alarms for over 250 Nigerians and signaling an urgent call for the Nigerian government or humanitarian organizations to intervene. He maintains that many detainees caught during their transit through Ethiopia face unjust imprisonment.
According to a report by Daily Post, this development comes on the heels of reports from earlier this year regarding the unexplained deaths of two Nigerians, Favour Chizoba and Joachim Uchenna Nwanneneme, in Kaliti Prison. These incidents fueled widespread suspicions of nationality-based foul play.
Reacting to these revelations, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs quickly branded Ezike’s narratives as overstated. Yet, the gravity of the claims has jolted the National Assembly into action, prompting both legislative houses to seek truth and clarity. They have launched probes via the Senate’s Committee on Diaspora and Foreign Affairs and posed inquiries to Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar and NIDCOM Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
The public, unfazed by the ministry’s skepticism about the video’s credibility, continues to demand prompt government intervention over the alleged injustices in Ethiopia. Simon Mwadkwon, the Senate Minority Leader, led a passionate plea, stressing the immediate need to confront these human rights abuses, flagging them as breaches of international legal norms that bind both Nigeria and Ethiopia.
Echoing Mwadkwon, several legislators, including Mohammed Mongunu and Titus Zam, highlighted the Nigerian government’s global duty to protect its citizens. Senate President Godswill Akpabio capped the discussion, calling for heightened efforts to advocate for Nigerians internationally and recognize the country’s substantial global influence.
Similar sentiments reverberated in the House of Representatives, resulting in additional summons for Minister Tuggar and NIDCOM chief Dabiri-Erewa, reaffirming the legislature’s dedication to deciphering the realities of the alleged mistreatment in Ethiopia.
Outside official channels, the public mood heavily leans toward diplomatic talks to secure the detainees’ freedom, particularly if authorities have wrongfully imprisoned them. Migration Consultant Osita Osemene and former legislator Shehu Yusuf delve into the detentions’ subtleties, suggesting that while some Nigerians might break local laws, a prevailing anti-Nigerian bias could exaggerate charges, causing unfair imprisonment.
Specialists advocate strengthening bilateral ties and exploring prisoner exchanges when suitable, asserting that authorities should not criminalize migration, a fundamental human right. These dialogues highlight the intricate interplay of international diplomacy and legalities, pressing for shrewd diplomatic maneuvers and a solid foreign policy that defends citizens’ rights overseas.
The current crisis calls for immediate, sophisticated reactions from Nigerian leadership, spotlighting the larger obstacles the nation’s diaspora encounters and urging a comprehensive reevaluation of Nigeria’s diplomatic efforts on the world stage.
