NIDCOM clarifies on Nigerian Prisoners released in Tanzania

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), has clarified on the reported call by the Human Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), for the Federal government of Nigeria to show evidence of Nigerian Prisoners released in Tanzania.

In a reply to the The Editor, Sunday Guardian, on April 26, titled ‘Re: Show us evidence of Nigerian Prisoners released in Tanzania’ NIDCOM through its Head, Media and Public Relations Unit, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, wrote, “The attention of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has been drawn to the allegation of the Human Rights Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) challeging the assertion of the Federal Government that 60 Nigerian prisoners are in the process of being repatriated from Tanzania prisons asking it to show evidence of such repatriation.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the said statement claimed that 60 Nigeria prisoners are due for repatriation out of 73. The Nigerian Mission in Tanzania under the able leadership of Dr Sahobi Gada, the Ambassador, has worked tirelessly for years to achieve that.

“The Ambassador was in Nigeria in January 2020 to discuss arrangements necessary for the proposed repatriation , before the break out of the Covid 19 Pandemic. The process is expected to continue after everything returns to normal.

“However , the mission is hoping that the Tanzanian government will consider clemency for some categories of Prisoners during this pandemic just as President Muhammadu Buhari has done.

“But it sounds suspicious that HURIWA who is demanding for evidence of the efforts of the Ambassador on the release of the prisoners could not name its own source in Tanzania . This is a serious issue that cannot be attributed to “ an unnamed source”.

“The Legal department of the Commission is ready to work with HURIWA on this and other relevant matters.

“I hope that this clarification will be given the same treatment extended to HURIWA’s accusation”.