Emotional Scenes As Nigerian Minister Visits Citizens In Ethiopian Custody

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has visited Nigerian inmates held at the Aba Samuel Prison in Ethiopia.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The visit took place during a recent trip by Nigerian government officials to Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.

Addressing the inmates, the Minister assured them that they had not been abandoned by the Nigerian government, noting that President Bola Tinubu is fully aware of their situation.

“Your country will not desert you… your President knows you are here,” she told them.

The visit followed the signing of a bilateral Prisoner Transfer Agreement between Nigeria and Ethiopia a few days earlier. The agreement is designed to allow Nigerian prisoners in Ethiopia to be transferred back home to complete their sentences.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu, however, disclosed that four Nigerian inmates died during the period of negotiations, judicial review, and completion of the agreement process.

She described the agreement as one grounded in “humanity, justice, and cooperation” between both countries.

Delivering President Tinubu’s message, the Minister emphasized that the welfare and protection of Nigerians abroad remain a top priority of the administration. She also expressed appreciation to the Government and people of Ethiopia for their cooperation.

She reminded Nigerians living abroad of the importance of respecting the laws of their host countries, while reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring that citizens who run into legal trouble abroad are not abandoned and are treated in accordance with international legal standards.

However, she stressed that the government’s support should not be mistaken as approval for unlawful behaviour, warning against criminal activity by Nigerian citizens overseas.