… says their conditions are inhumane, wants FG urgent intervention
The Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Community in Cote d’Ivoire, Chief Davidson Ogbu is appealing to the President of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu to come to the rescue of Nigerians languishing in the Cote d’Ivoire prisons.
He made this appeal in an exclusive interview with our correspondent, Chris Onokpegu in his office, in Koumassi, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday, December 26.
Chief Ogbu who is also the Coordinator of Delta State Community in Cote d’Ivoire disclosed that many of them did not commit any crime but found themselves in prisons due to administrative issues and intimidation from opposition. His words, “I am raising this alarm because of the huge numbers of Nigerians languishing in Cote d’Ivoire prisons. I want the federal government to intervene because some of them are going through inhumane conditions.”
He continued “Some of them did not commit crime, they just need administrative clearance. There is a need for our federal government to intervene at this time because the huge number of Nigerians in prison is so enormous that, it is becoming so alarming. Many of them were thrown into prison by some of the opposition group who will go to the villages and arrest these women and extort them and those who could not are kept in the prison. Many of them are languishing in the prison somehow. Our government needs to do something about it since they are still humans. There is a need for the government of Nigeria to intervene in order to help those who desire presidential interventions to be freed.”
The Delta State-born Advocate further said “Many of them are sick and many of them don’t have the administrative fee to free themselves, little, little thing is what is holding them. Nigerian government needs to intervene maybe through the Prison Service in Nigeria by collaborating with the Prison Service in Cote d’Ivoire, and see how they can give better conditions to Nigerian prisoners. We are not saying those that committed crime should not serve but we want better conditions and for those who did not commit crime should be set free.
The Humanitarian and Businessman concluded by saying that many of the prisoners mainly women are going through inhumane conditions hence they need to be rescued before their health deteriorate. “Normally, it is something we should raise alarm on because the last time I visited there, their health conditions were deteriorating and if something is not done urgently, we might lose some of them.”
Recalled that the President of the Nigerian Community in Cote d’Ivoire, Chief Michael Emeka Onwuchelu has also visited the prisons on several occasions. He had also intervened on countless times with the Nigerian Embassy to ensure that some of them are rescued from going to prison.