FOR THE RECORD: Why Are Nigerian Governments Silent About The Killings Of Nigerians Abroad?

CNN reporter Paula Hancocks reporting the execution of the drug convicts including three Nigerians. Source: CNN

Three Nigerians were amongst the latest people executed for drug-related offences in Indonesia on Friday, 29 July 2016.

Ventures Africa report continues:

The south east Asian country is one of the few in the world with drug trafficking convictions punishable by death. Since the advent of President Joko Widodo’s administration in October 2014, the latest execution brings the number of Nigerians executed for drug offences to 8 out of 19 killed; the country with the most nationals. This questions how much the Nigerian government does in examining legal cases of its citizens in the diaspora.

During the wee hours of Friday, the Indonesian Deputy Attorney-General, Noor Rachmad, said the country had executed four drug convicts, including three foreigners by firing squad. The convicts include; Freddy Budiman (Indonesian), Seck Osmane (Nigerian), Humphrey Jefferson Ejike (Nigerian) and Michael Titus Igweh (Nigerian). The firing squad went ahead, in spite of protests by several human rights groups calling for a halt to the process. According to the Indonesian government, 14 drug convicts were scheduled to be killed today, but 10 of them had a last-minute stay of execution. The ten others include four Nigerians as well.

The other Nigerians may soon be killed, if the Nigerian government and its people refuse act strongly. Nigeria is one of the countries that rarely ever utilizes the capital punishment, and as such, its government needs to speak up for its citizens billed to be served the same. There are even concerns about the fairness of the trials given to these convicts. Some days before the latest execution in Indonesia, Amnesty International wrote that “the organization found that in 12 cases, defendants were denied access to legal counsel at the time of their arrest, and at different periods thereafter. Some claimed they were subject to torture and other ill-treatment while in police custody, and were forced to ‘confess’ to their alleged crimes. To date, these claims have not been investigated by the authorities.”

Just after today’s execution, the legal team of one of the Nigerians killed, Humphrey Jefferson Ejike, reportedly said he was unjustly killed. Where is the Nigerian government in this case?

“At this stage, we can only say that we are extremely disappointed with the fact that Jeff was executed.

“The government does not respect the ongoing legal process on Jeff’s case.

“There is strong evidence of torture and he was not given a fair trial. Racism towards our client can be seen in the court decision,” Raynov Tumorang told CNN.

Despite Indonesia’s stiff stance on drug deals, the executions of other foreign convicts have been delayed before. In April last year, a Filipina, Mary Veloso was billed to be executed alongside 9 others, but the intervention of the Philippine President, Benigno Aquino, halted that execution. Also, at that time, the only European among the drug convicts, French Serge Atlaoui was not executed due to a strong legal engagement.

CNN commentator in Philippines explaining how Philippines secured reprieve from execution for Filipina Mary Jane Veloso. Source: CNN

Beyond Indonesia, Nigerians are unjustly killed in other parts of the world, with little or no reaction from the government. Even as the Nigerian government warns its citizens, to desist from activities that can put them on the wrong side of the law and soil the country’s name, there is more to be done diplomatically – to avoid the constant killing of its people in foreign lands. All Nigerian embassies need to be alert and act accordingly, defending their citizens abroad.

GRAPHITTI NEWS ADDENDUM

Again, Nigerians Killed In South Africa; Total Of 17 Killed So Far In 2016

The President of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, Ikechukwu Anyene, has confirmed that two Nigerians were killed in Johannesburg, Gauteng Province.

Anyene told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Port Harcourt in a telephone interview from Pretoria that the two men were killed on Friday, July 29, at different areas of Johannesburg.

He said that the first victim, Gideon Ogalaonye, an indigene of Onitsha, Anambra, was allegedly shot dead at 7 p.m. while on a visit to the residence of his daughters. He said that the second victim, Nnamdi Michael, an indigene of Enugu state, was allegedly stabbed to death by a Zimbabwean national at Yeoville at 8 p.m on the same day.

Anyene said witnesses said the assailant first demanded money from Michael, which was not given and later attempted to forcefully remove his phone. He said the assailant stabbed the victim, adding that Nigerians at the scene pursued and arrested him.

Anyene said: “The Zimbabwean has been handed over to the police and we will follow the case. “The two incidents have been reported to the Nigerian mission in South Africa and the South African police. “The Nigerian community in South Africa are not happy with the killings.

“We urge the Federal government to persuade its South African counterpart to investigate and prosecute incidents of killings of Nigerians in that country.

“We are getting worried about these incessant killings and we want the culprits prosecuted.”

NAN recalls that Ikejiaku Chinedu, a 35 year-old Nigerian businessman, was killed on July 26 at Mokopane town, Limpopo Province by operatives of a private security firm.