In a press statement signed by Comrade Igboayaka O Igboayaka, OYC National President and Comrade Nweke Ifeanyichukwu, Secretary General in Abuja on Sunday, the organisation said it was important to bring to the notice of the world and Nigeria the “excruciating pains and agony, including extrajudicial killings, harassment, maltreatment and undue detention of innocent Nigerian youths who are merely doing their legitimate business in some states and cities in Republic of Benin”.
Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has lamented the detention of over 5,000 Nigerian youths in Benin Republic prisons as of Sunday, January 21, 2024.
In a press statement signed by Comrade Igboayaka O Igboayaka, OYC National President and Comrade Nweke Ifeanyichukwu, Secretary General in Abuja on Sunday, the organisation said it was important to bring to the notice of the world and Nigeria the “excruciating pains and agony, including extrajudicial killings, harassment, maltreatment and undue detention of innocent Nigerian youths who are merely doing their legitimate business in some states and cities in Republic of Benin”.
OYC said an estimated 5,000 Nigerians who are predominantly youths of the average age of 25 to 50 languish in 13 prisons in the Republic of Benin.
According to the group, an estimated 95% of them are innocent.
It identified the prisons as including Akpro Misserete Prison, Cotonou Prison, Abomey-Calavi Prison, Ouidah Prison, Adjara Lokossa Porto Novo Prison, Parakou Prison Benin Republic and Kandi Prison Benin Republic.
Others are Savolou, Agassa Godomey, Ekpe Agblangandan Prison, Akrake, Njeregbe Prison and Godomey Okotome Prison.
The organisation identified some of the alleged victims as 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; and Fwah Enock Jebison, from Adamawa State.
Others listed are Onu Vincent Okechukwu, from Enugu State; Ugochukwu Samuel, from Imo State; Ishaya Wycleff, from Adamawa State and Odi Onyekachi, from Ebonyi State.
OYC said, “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 traveled 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 Organizations, Distinguished 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 realize 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 the victims are Nigerian youths.”
As part of the cases listed, OYC said, “Again, on the 18th Of April, 2023, an innocent young man Okumah Chika Lawrence who lawfully works as an administrate 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.
“Till date, he has been unlawfully detained in prison and all efforts to release him have been abortive.
“Nevertheless, on November 30th, 2020, Mr Fidelis Chimezie Udensi, a businessman in Lagos who deals in provision but went to Benin Republic for a business trip and was unlawfully arrested and detained, since that time till now, every effort made with some of his lawyers from Cotonou to release him proved abortive.”
It continued, “ 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 liberty 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.
“We therefore charge everyone to join the cause for justice for innocent Nigerians in Republic of Benin Prisons. Injury to one is injury to all.”