********NIDO AFRICA SOUNDS ALARM: URGENT CALL ON NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT TO WADE INTO PLIGHT OF 300+ NATIONALS SUFFERING DEATH, TORTURE IN INDIAN DETENTION CAMPS
ABUJA, NIGERIA – The Nigerians in Diaspora Organization (NIDO) Africa has issued an urgent and distressed call to the Nigerian Government, demanding immediate high-level diplomatic intervention regarding the dire humanitarian crisis facing over 300 Nigerian nationals currently held in deportation detention camps in India.
NIDO Africa revealed harrowing accounts of abuse, neglect, and illegal restrictions at the detention camp in Lampur, New Delhi, calling for swift action to prevent further loss of life and suffering among the detained Nigerians. According to information received directly from the detainees, the situation has escalated dramatically despite a previous waiver granted by the Indian Government allowing deportees to leave the country until February.
The crisis has reached catastrophic proportions, with three Nigerian nationals already having died in the detention camp. Approximately eight detainees are now suffering from serious mental health issues due to depression and stress related to their ordeal. In a severely disturbing case, one Nigerian detainee reportedly had his hands amputated due to torture received while in detention.
The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) is allegedly continuing to intimidate and arbitrarily arrest Nigerians, effectively nullifying the deportation waiver. Detainees who purchased tickets to leave India were reportedly prevented from exiting the country, leading to the expiration of their tickets and prolonged detention.
Prof. Jude Osakwe, Chairman of NIDO Africa, who established direct contact with some of the detainees, confirmed the severity of the crisis. While acknowledging the efforts of Nigeria Embassy in India, he emphasized that consular diplomacy is being actively frustrated by Indian internal agencies.
“The ordeal our brothers and sisters are facing is unacceptable and demands the highest level of governmental intervention,” said Prof. Osakwe. “We know that the consular officer and the Immigration officer at the Nigerian Embassy in India have been doing their absolute best to secure the release of these Nigerians, dedicating significant effort and resources.”
However, Prof. Osakwe noted that the diplomatic pathway is being severely blocked. “The key impediment lies with the FRRO, which is actively making things difficult for our Embassy officials and preventing the release and successful repatriation of those cleared to leave. The Indian Government must ensure its agencies cooperate to uphold human rights and diplomatic protocols.”
NIDO Africa is urging the Presidency to urgently deploy all diplomatic resources necessary to engage the highest levels of the Indian Government. The immediate priority is the secure release, medical attention, and repatriation of the detained Nigerians, especially those suffering from critical health and mental issues.
“We appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to personally wade into this diplomatic and humanitarian catastrophe. The lives of over 300 Nigerians are at stake, and we cannot afford further inaction,” Prof. Osakwe concluded