Abuja/New Delhi: Amid PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Abuja, the head of a Nigerian socio-cultural organisation has urged President Bola Tinubu to use the visit of the Indian Prime Minister to negotiate the release of over 1.3 million Nigerians allegedly in Indian prisons.
According to a Nigerian news site Leadership, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, a chieftain of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said that according to verified intelligence, “over 1.3 million Nigerians were being imprisoned across India”.
In a statement personally signed by him and made available to Leadership on Sunday, he maintained that India currently houses more Nigerian prisoners than any other nation, saying it’s “a situation that demands immediate diplomatic attention.”
The Ohaneze chieftain stated that many of the detained Nigerians were victims of stringent immigration policies that fail to distinguish between genuine students, medical tourists, and legitimate businesspersons.
“It is imperative that President Tinubu utilize this diplomatic opportunity to advocate for the swift release of those unjustly detained, particularly individuals who are innocent and have faced prolonged detainment without fair trials,” he stated.
He described the figure as alarming, adding that the statistics highlighted the complexity of Nigeria-India relations.
“Our call for action does not extend to those serving prison sentences for criminal activities, but rather to those ensnared by systemic challenges or racial discrimination.
“There are pressing humanitarian considerations that must be addressed. The alarming statistics that over 1.3 million Nigerians are currently imprisoned across various states in India, a situation that must not be overlooked.
“This represents a notable humanitarian crisis, given that India houses more Nigerian nationals in its prisons than any other country globally. These individuals include those mistakenly caught within the web of stringent immigration laws, as well as those pursuing genuine educational endeavours and medical care,” he added, according to the news site.
Prime Minister Modi arrived in Nigeria on Saturday evening and was formally received by President Tinubu at the State House on Sunday for bilateral talks.
UNI
