An estimated over 5000 Nigerians out of which over 98 percent are youths are allegedly languishing in 13 prisons in Benin Republic.
The alarm was raised in a statement signed by Comrades Igboayaka O Igboayaka and Nweke Ifeanyichukwu.
The duo are the National President General and Secretary General respectively of the Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC).
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The prisons include: Akpro Misserete Prison, Benin Republic, Cotonou Prison Benin Republic, Abomey-Calavi Prison Benin Republic, Ouidah Prison Benin Republic, Adjara Lokossa Porto Novo prison Benin Republic, Parakou prison Benin Republic, Kandi Prison Benin Republic, Savolou Prison Benin Republic, Agassa Godomey Prison Benin Republic, Ekpe Agblangandan Prison Benin Republic, Akrake Prison Benin Republic, Njeregbe Prison Benin Republic and Godomey Okotome Prison Benin Republic.
The statement reads in part: “It may interest the general public and federal government of Nigeria to know that in the above estimated 5,000 Nigerians languishing in the aforementioned Prisons in Benin Republic, about 5% are being alleged of frivolous crime by Republic of Benin without any evidence of crime but 95% are totally innocent Nigerians who do legitimate businesses in Benin Republic with legitimate and verifiable sources of income. Some of them were those who travelled from other countries for a business trip to Benin Republic.
“We therefore call on the federal Government of Nigeria, led by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the Inspection General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, Minister of foreign Affairs Adamu Ibrahim Lamuwa, Chairman/CEO Nigeria In Diaspora Commission Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations Distinguish senator Victor Umeh the Nigeria Director of Interpol Bankole sikiru, Chairman House of Representatives Committee Hon. Tolulope Akande Sadipe and State Director of DSS Mr Yusuf Magaji Bichi to thoroughly investigate the plights of Nigerian Youths in the Republic of Benin. We are very sure that at the cause of your investigation you will be very shocked with the details of your findings over what Nigerian Youths are silently passing through in Benin Republic
“Therefore, we appeal that proper investigation is conducted through your various offices with local and international standards of Truth findings, you will realise the actual truth that Benin republic President Patrice Guillaume Athanase Talon is practising modern day slavery against other citizens from many African Countries, and most of victims are Nigerian Youths.
“The most shocking information during the cause of our investigation, were that, Prisoners alleged that both Foreigners and citizens of Benin Republic that French Government pays President Patrice Talon, 45,000 CFA daily on each persons unlawfully arrested and detained in the Prison, and this is why more unlawful detention of foreigners and even his own citizens are unlawfully detained at Akporo Misserete Prison. Most Prisoners will be taken away from the prison without getting to their home, the prisoners are afraid and alleging that some inmates are used as commodities for human trafficking and organ harvesting.
“It’s obvious with the horrific information from Prisoners in all the Prison in Benin Republic, the health conditions, safety and welfare of innocent Nigerians held in solitary confinement with impunity in Benin Republic should be investigated and proper actions taken to secure their freedom.
“The prison inmates also alleged that Innocent Nigerians who are walking across Nigeria border and Benin Republic border are most times arrested and detained in the D’Akpro Misserete Prison and are charged with terrorism, same as multitude of Northern Nigerians who lawfully reside and do their businesses in Benin Republic are unlawfully arrested, detained and charged with terrorism even without having found with any weapon or evidence of such crime on them, yet innocent persons are charged with such criminal offences just because of the President Patrice Talon undemocratic tyrannical government that is geared towards sabotaging Africa. President Patrice Talon is also accused of using innocent Nigerian Citizens for Human trafficking, Organ Harvesting / modern day slavery after illegal arrest and detention of such victims in a Neo Mafia Gestapo Style.
“We would like to chronicle some incidents of these illegal arrests and detention of Nigerian Youths in Benin Republic.
“Furthermore, Okpala Maxwell And Obi Author Uzuchukwu on 25th of September 2023, was unlawfully arrested and detained because he was boarding from Cotonou Airport back to his base Brazil who deals on travelling bags and women’s bags. Since then till now it has been one story to another without any proof of crime against him”.
OYC recalled that on the 18th of April, 2023, an innocent young man Okumah Chika Lawrence who lawfully works as an administrative staff-Dean Of Students Affairs of a Private University (Esfam Benin University, Porto Benin Republic, was unlawfully arrested and detained in prison without any evidence of crime committed, adding that till date, he has been unlawfully detained in prison and all efforts to release him have been abortive.
The statement said: “Nevertheless, On November 30th 2020, Mr Fidelis Chimezie Udensi a business man in Lagos that deals on provision but went to Benin Republic for business trip and he was unlawful arrested and detained, since that time till now, every effort made with some of his Lawyers from Cotonou to release him prove abortive”.
OYC called on Tinubu, the Inspection General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, Minister of foreign Affairs Adamu Ibrahim Lamuwa, Chairman/CEO Nigeria In Diaspora Commission Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations Senator Victor Umeh the Nigeria Director of Interpol Bankole sikiru, Chairman House of Representatives Committee Hon. Tolulope Akande Sadipe and State Director of DSS Yusuf Magazine Bichi to check atrocities going on against Nigerian Youths in Benin Republic.
The group listed the victims to include: Fadogba James, from Ekiti State, Alassane Soule, from Niger State, Okumah Chika Lawrence, from Anambra State, Bassey Sunday, from Akwa Ibom State, Mouhamadou Mainassara, from Kwara State, Fwah Enock Jebison, from Adamawa State, Onu Vincent Okechukwu, from Enugu State, Ugochukwu Samuel, from Imo State, Ishaya Wycleff, from Adamawa State and Odi Onyekachi, from Ebonyi State.
“Nevertheless, we wish to also bring to your notice, that both the innocent Nigerians that didn’t commit any crime and those that might be guilty of the crime alleged, are handed unreasonable long jail term between five(5) years to twenty(20)years without option of fine, and with the fact of serving half of the jail term and request such innocent Nigerians to pay a compulsory fee tagged liberte fee which ranges from 500,000F.CFA to 10,000,000F.CFA, that is if the person’s name appears on the liberte list and holding to the fact that whoever fails or unable to pay the liberte fee, therefore, would completely serve the jail term even if it is twenty(20) years imprisonment.
“We look forward to the official action of the federal Government of Nigeria, concerned agencies and other offices to investigate and intervene on the illegal arrest, detention and wanton killings going on against Innocent Nigerians Youths in Benin Republic for immediate intervention to rescue and evacuate them” the statement said.
It charged the public to join the cause for justice for innocent Nigerians in the Republic of Benin Prisons, lamenting, “Injury To one is injury to all”.