By Oluwatosin Maliki
On Wednesday, the Senate has decided to launch a thorough investigation into the alleged unlawful killings and incarceration of over 250 Nigerians in Ethiopia.
This motion was led by the Senate Minority Leader, Simon Mwadkwon and co-sponsored by Senator Victor Umeh. during the plenary session in Abuja.
The motion was titled: “Urgent Need to Investigate the Unlawful Killings and Incarceration of over 250 Nigerians in Ethiopia”.
During his presentation, Mwadkwon urged the Federal Government to intervene in the suffering of Nigerians in Ethiopia.
He stated, “Dr. Paul Ezike is calling on the Nigerian government to intervene on the inhumanity and torture that Nigerians are receiving in Ethiopia without evidence of the commission of any crime”.
“Based on the widespread information being circulated that over 250 Nigerians who have continued to face these maltreatments and inhumanity have not committed any crime known to any law”.
Furthermore, he noted, “There is no evidence of any court proceedings stating the categories of crimes they have committed or any court conviction in that regard”.
“At the moment, based on the sovereignty of this country and the sanctity of the lives and property of all Nigerians all over the world as captured in the Nigerian Constitution, there is no justification whatsoever for taking away the dignity of any person, let alone taking away the life of a citizen”.
“This calls for urgent intervention of this hallowed chamber as the lives of those 250 people matter most to us.”
In addition, senator Mohammed Monguno, who seconded the motion, expressed that our constitution gives importance to the protection of the lives and property of Nigerian citizens.
“All hands must be on deck by all arms of government; the executive and legislature in particular that this ugly scenario should be investigated and the interest of our citizens wherever they may be should be jealously guarded and protected,” he said.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, in a response, urged relevant authorities of the Federal Government to take action and value the lives of Nigerians both in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.
The senate President said, “I’m aware that many Nigerians are suffering discrimination in places like South Africa and Seychelles. Some of them have stopped receiving the Green Passports”.
Akpabio directed the Senate Committees on Diaspora and Foreign Affairs to work with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to immediately investigate the alleged unlawful killings and incarceration of Nigerians in Ethiopia.
Within two weeks, the committees are expected to present a report on their findings to the Senate.