By John Ikani
No fewer than 200 Nigerian inmates locked up in the maximum security Kaliti prison in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, are calling on the Federal Government of Nigeria to facilitate their transfer to Nigerian prisons.
The inmates, in a letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Embassy in Ethiopia, spoke of the grave human rights abuses they endure in the Ethiopian prison, including starvation, lack of medical care, corporal and capital punishment, and overcrowding.
“We ask that the government come to our aid urgently,” the letter read.
“We lack access to water, food and medical care. We are asking the government to intervene so we can serve the rest of our jail terms in Nigeria. Many of us have fallen ill due to malnourishment, the health infrastructure is weak, and inmates are suffering from precarious health issues.”
The Nigerian inmates, some of whom are still awaiting trial, also highlighted the difficulties in communication with their families and friends outside of Ethiopia.
They expressed remorse for their actions and appealed for a “second chance at rehabilitation.”
Analysis: How genuine is the plea for transfer?
It is possible that the Ethiopia-Tigray conflict could have had an impact on prison conditions in the country, including those at the Kaliti prison where the Nigerian inmates are being held.
War can result in a wide range of negative effects on society, including; economic disruption, displacement of people, and damage to infrastructure. These issues can in turn, affect the functioning of institutions like prisons.
For example, a war-torn country may have a shortage of resources to maintain the prison and provide for the needs of the inmates, leading to poor living conditions.
In addition, the war could have led to overcrowding in the prison as the judicial system may not be able to process cases as quickly as before.
The Nigerian inmates may be experiencing these conditions and that may be the reason they are calling on the Federal Government to facilitate their transfer to Nigeria.
