The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, and the chairman of the Nigeria Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri on Thursday, were summoned by the House of Representatives to brief the House on measures being taken to protect Nigerians in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
This followed a motion raised by the minority leader of the House, Kingsley China and 10 others, on the victimization, maltreatment and forced imprisonment of Nigerians, including air travellers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Others who joined in the motion are Hon.Abdussamad Dasukki, Hon. Laori Kwamoti Bittrus, Hon. Aliyu Madaki, Hon. Unyime Idem, Hon. Nkwonta Chris, Hon. Abbas Adogun, Hon. Kabiru Ahmadu, Hon. Ibe O. Osonwa, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe and Hon. Kelechi Nwogu
While leading the debate on the motion, Chinda alleged that one Paul Ezike in a “safe our soul message” circulated at the instance of a Nigerian allegedly arrested and put in Ethiopia prison.
According to him, some Nigerians are currently serving at the Chaota Maximum Security and other prisons in Ethiopia, most of whom are travellers that use the Ethiopian Airport as a transit point where they are indiscriminately arrested at the Ethiopia Airport in Addis Ababa, taken to the hospital and forcefully injected with some substances and later taken to the prison facilities.
He reiterated that Nigerians in Addis Ababa and all over the world, including their air travellers should be protected and should be accorded the same protection Nigeria gives to foreigners who live in Nigeria.
According to the lawmaker, about 250 Nigerians are currently serving prison terms in Ethiopia as a result of frequent attacks, warning that they may die in prison if urgent steps are not taken to save them.
He explained further that these Nigerians are not only poorly treated but also subjected to very agonizing conditions, poor feeding and without medication.
The lawmaker however warned that if early interventions and diplomatic measures are not taken by the Nigerian Government to check the incessant attacks on Nigerians in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, air travellers would be at risk in the country.
