The Federal Government has secured the release of thousands of Nigerians detained in prisons and detention facilities across India through an amnesty programme negotiated by the Nigerian High Commission in the country.
The amnesty, which was secured between September last year and May this year, mainly covered Nigerians detained for immigration offences and other irregularities, according to the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
According to an official statement signed by the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, beneficiaries of the amnesty have been released and returned to Nigeria, although some Nigerians in detention failed to take advantage of the opportunity within the stipulated period.
The Commission said the Nigerian High Commission in India was continuing efforts to assist Nigerians still in detention, with its officials visiting 198 inmates across five prisons in Maharashtra, Mumbai, as of September 1.
NiDCOM said there were still Nigerians incarcerated in other provinces of India, adding that the Nigerian High Commission was attending to their cases and providing necessary consular intervention.
The statement disclosed that Nigeria’s High Commissioner to India, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, was also engaging her Indian counterpart to secure another six-month amnesty for Nigerians who have not been tried but remain in detention camps over immigration offences and other irregularities.
On the case of a Nigerian identified as Mr Ekene, which has attracted attention in India, NiDCOM said the Nigerian High Commission would review his case and determine whether he qualifies for release under the applicable procedures.
It explained that where he is found eligible to leave India, the process would be facilitated, subject to the necessary procedures and his family’s ability to raise the funds required for his return.
“The Nigerian High Commission is on his case and that of others in similar circumstances and has also been putting pressure on the Indian government to speed up cases of those awaiting trials for various offences,” the statement said.
NiDCOM Chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, urged Nigerians staying illegally in India to take advantage of any fresh amnesty secured by the Nigerian Government when implemented, warning that those who continue to remain in the country without valid immigration status risk arrest.
“Nigerians in India, who are in India irregularly should take advantage of the next set of amnesty being negotiated when effected, while others who are still staying there illegally, should utilise the opportunity or risk being arrested,” she advised.
NiDCOM, however, clarified that the amnesty does not cover Nigerians awaiting trial for criminal offences such as drug-related crimes.
The Commission appealed to Nigerians living in India and other countries to respect the laws of their host nations and avoid acts that could result in arrest, detention or prosecution.
