Nigerian inmates in Kaliti prison, a maximum-security prison in Addis Abba, Ethiopia, have again called on the government to facilitate their transfer to prisons in Nigeria.
The inmates are pleading to be allowed to serve the rest of their jail terms in Nigeria.
The detainees said they suffer grave human rights abuses in the Ethiopian prison.
SaharaReporters gathered that over 300 Nigerians are presently languishing in the Ethiopian prison facility.
They were arrested over allegations of possession of hard drugs and money laundering.
In a fresh letter addressed to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian embassy in Ethiopia, the inmates appealed to the Nigerian government to come to their rescue.
They claimed many of them fall ill due to malnourishment.
The inmates appealed to President Tinubu to intervene so they can be transferred to serve the rest of their jail terms in Nigeria.
“We, Nigerian inmates in Kaliti prison in Ethiopia are appealing to you and the Nigerian government, especially the President of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Tinubu, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) to intervene on our behalf and to help us to be transferred to serve the balance of our jail terms in Nigeria.
“Many of us have fallen ill due to malnourishment; the health infrastructure here is very weak and inmates are suffering from different health issues. We are going through a health crisis due to the following reasons, non-availability of prescribed drugs, communication with our families and friends outside Ethiopia is impossible, we have no relatives nor friends in the country, and some of us have complicated health issues like cardiac complications whose drugs are not available.
“Some of us have cases of epilepsy, spinal cord injury, kidney complications that have resulted in swollen legs and psychiatric issues. Those who are of medium age are suffering from optical problems and diabetes because of poor feeding. Most of us who have wives and children cannot communicate with them.
“We again reiterate our regret and remorse for our actions and appeal to you and the Nigerian government to forgive our mistakes and give us a second chance at rehabilitation. If a son offended the father and later came back to his father and pleaded for forgiveness, we believe that the father would forgive him. We promise to be faithful and loyal citizens and good ambassadors of our great and beloved country henceforth.
“We are humbly pleading to you and the Nigerian government, especially those concerned in this matter to intervene on our behalf and rescue us from this incarceration and also help us to be transferred to serve the balance of our jail terms and also to stay near our families in Nigeria. We are looking forward to your positive intervention sooner. We shall be very happy to hear from you.”
Recently, a Nigerian, Chizoba Eze died in Kaliti Prison, Addis Ababa following an alleged physical aggression.
Multiple sources told SaharaReporters that Eze was brutalised by policemen in the facility, and died from the injuries inflicted on her.
It was also alleged that her corpse was left inside the cell for over 36 hours by the prison management who allegedly prevented other inmates from informing the Nigerian embassy about the incident.