Israeli Embassy Celebrates Release of 20 Hostages by Hamas

By: Michael Mike

The Embassy of Israel in Nigeria has celebrated the 20 Israeli hostages who have finally returned home after 738 days of being held hostage by Hamas.

The embassy in a statement on Monday by the Ambassador of Israel to Nigeria, Michael Freeman said “the Embassy of Israel in Nigeria joins the people of Israel, the global Jewish community, and all people of goodwill in celebrating the release of 20 Israeli hostages who have finally returned home after 738 harrowing days in captivity under the evil terror organization Hamas.

“This long-awaited moment is one of profound relief, national unity, and moral victory. It reminds the world of Israel’s enduring commitment to the sanctity of life and to the defense of its citizens against terror and tyranny.”

The statement added that: “From the beginning, Israel has made clear: Israel did not want this war and did not start it. The conflict began two years ago, on October 7th, 2023, a sacred Jewish holiday, when thousands of Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, committing acts of unimaginable cruelty — murdering, torturing, raping, and burning alive innocent Israelis in their homes and at a peaceful music festival.

“Since that day, Hamas has brought unimaginable suffering not only to Israel but to the people of Gaza, deliberately using civilians as human shields, hiding in and beneath mosques, schools, and hospitals, and turning homes into arsenals of terror. Their crimes have violated every moral, human, and legalprinciple.

“For two years, Israel has faced lies, distortions, and blood libels — false and immoral accusations of deliberate starvation and genocide — while defending its citizens and seeking the return of its kidnapped sons and daughters. Israel has acted with moral clarity, guided by international law, and motivated by a deep moral commitment to protect life, even as its enemies sought to pervert truth and justice.
Today, Israel celebrates the return of its people — and looks forward to the dawn of peace and stability in the region.”

Freeman said: “Today, we welcome home the 20 living hostages who have endured the unendurable. We give thanks for their survival, and we pray for their healing. We remember with broken hearts those who did not make it home, and we renew our commitment to bring back the bodies of the 28 remaining hostages who were murdered by Hamas.
 
“Israel did not seek this war. It was forced upon us by terror, hatred, and darkness. But after 738 days, we also see light — the light of freedom, the light of truth, and the light of hope.

“As Israel has always said, the release of the hostages will bring the end of the war.
The end of this war must bring an end to Hamas’s reign of terror, and open the door to a future of security, dignity, and coexistence — for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

“We extend our deepest gratitude to President Donald J. Trump, whose steadfast leadership, moral clarity, and tireless diplomacy played an instrumental role in bringing our hostages home and in advancing peace in the Middle East. His friendship with Israel and his courage in standing with the Israeli people will never be forgotten.”

Israeli Embassy Celebrates Release of 20 Hostages by Hamas

NHRC, NGO Calls for Abolition of Death Penalty for Female

By: Michael Mike

Hope Behind Bars Africa, in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), has called for the abolition of death penalty for the female in the country.

The call was made during a validation meeting on research findings organized by Hope Behind Bars Africa in collaboration with the NHRC.

The Executive Director of Hope Behind Bars Africa, Funke Adeoye, called for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system and stronger protection for women facing the death penalty, describing capital punishment as “the most irreversible form of human rights violation.”

Adeoye made the call in Abuja during an event commemorating the World Day Against the Death Penalty, organised in partnership with the NHRC, the Legal Aid Council, and the Nigerian Correctional Service, with support from the Australian High Commission, the Embassy of Belgium, and the French Embassy.

She commended the NHRC for its consistent collaboration over the years, noting that the Commission has remained a steadfast ally in advancing the rights of vulnerable individuals across the country.

Reflecting on her organisation’s work, Adeoye explained that Hope Behind Bars Africa has spent the past seven years tackling systemic injustices within Nigeria’s criminal justice system.

“As an organisation, we have focused on ensuring access to justice for the most vulnerable. We have supported the reduction of pretrial detainees, advocated for fair trials, and provided legal aid to indigent inmates. But among all forms of human rights violations, the death penalty stands out because it is permanent. If an innocent person is imprisoned, there’s always a chance to correct that wrong. But once someone is executed, that mistake can never be undone,” she said.

She revealed that her organisation, with support from the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, recently conducted research into the experiences of women on death row across Nigeria, uncovering deep-rooted gender discrimination within the justice system.

The research was led by Ms. Ogechi Ogu and Professor Ibrahim Bello ,conducted in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission, and supported by the French Development Agency, exposes how women on death row face compounded injustices rooted in gender discrimination, poverty, and weak access to justice.

“Our findings show that women in the criminal justice system face intersecting forms of discrimination. Because there are fewer women in detention, their needs are often ignored. The system is patriarchal by design ,it was not built with women in mind and that means their cases, their mental health, and even their rehabilitation receive little attention,” she said.

According to the study, Nigeria’s plural legal system comprising statutory, customary, and Sharia laws creates inconsistencies in justice delivery, particularly for women. Although they constitute a minority of death row inmates, their experiences reveal systemic inequalities in investigation, trial, and sentencing.

The study, which surveyed 60 women on death row across 10 states, found that 47 percent were aged 18–35, while over one-third had no formal education. Most were mothers and primary caregivers, meaning their incarceration causes severe family and social disruption.

Many worked in low-income, informal jobs such as trading, catering, or farming before imprisonment, reflecting their economic vulnerability.

Structural factors like gender-based violence, forced marriage, and economic dependency were found to heavily influence the women’s pathways to crime and conviction. Over a third had experienced domestic abuse or coercion, and in some cases, their offences were directly linked to self-defence or abuse-related trauma.

Within the justice system, 75 percent of the women did not understand the laws under which they were charged, 85 percent felt the law was unfair to women, and more than half described their trials as non-transparent. A significant number noted that the male-dominated judicial structure negatively affected their cases.

The report also highlighted the severe stigma and abandonment faced by women after conviction, especially in cases involving adultery or domestic disputes.

Many inmates’ children suffered disrupted education, unstable care, and psychological trauma as a result of their mothers’ incarceration.

Most women viewed the death penalty as unfair and ineffective, with over 80 percent preferring rehabilitation-based alternatives such as imprisonment with vocational training and psychosocial support.

Adeoye disclosed that when the group wrote to the Nigerian Correctional Service seeking approval to carry out the study, records showed about 85 women on death row nationwide. The goal, she said, was to document their experiences and gather evidence to inform justice reforms.

Turning to recent developments, Adeoye applauded President Bola Tinubu’s decision to grant pardons to some death row inmates, calling it a step in the right direction and also acknowledging that for over nine years Nigeria has not executed prisoners sentenced to death.

“We are grateful to the President for exercising his constitutional powers under Section 175 to grant pardons. But we must also be honest: issues of power and privilege often shape who gets mercy. Take the case of Miriam Sander she had good lawyers and a story that made headlines. Many of the women we work with don’t have that luxury. Some never met their lawyers before trial, and others were represented by under-resourced legal aid officers who simply couldn’t manage capital cases. These women are the forgotten ones,” she said.

Adeoye concluded by reaffirming Hope Behind Bars Africa’s commitment to continue advocating for fairer trials, humane treatment, and reform within Nigeria’s justice system.

“Today’s event is not just about marking the World Day Against the Death Penalty. It is a reminder that justice must serve everyone equally, not only those with power or visibility. We want this research and our advocacy to spark a movement that restores dignity and hope to people who have been written off by society. Our goal is simple: a justice system that values life, fairness, and redemption,” she said.

The Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu (SAN), represented by Harry Obe, emphasized that the death penalty has failed to deliver justice or deter crime.

He aligned with the global theme for the year, “The Death Penalty Protects No One,” to stress that executions do not make societies safer, nor do they address the root causes of criminal behavior.

“Evidence from around the world, and indeed from our own context here in Nigeria, shows that the death penalty does not truly protect anyone. It has not significantly deterred crime and often fails to address the underlying causes of violence and insecurity. Justice should be restorative rather than retributive, and the protection of human dignity must be central to our legal and penal systems,” he said.

Dr. Ojukwu stressed the NHRC’s firm position that justice must aim to rehabilitate rather than destroy lives.

The NHRC expressed worry about the growing trend of new laws proposing capital punishment for certain offences, calling such moves “counterproductive” and contrary to current global human rights conversations.

“In our monthly Human Rights Situation Dashboard, we raised concerns over the resurgence of capital punishment in proposed legislations. These include the Edo State Secret Cult Law 2025 and the NAFDAC Bill prescribing the death penalty for the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit medicines. While these measures may appear politically expedient, they are ultimately counterproductive and risk diverting attention from the structural reforms our justice system truly needs,” he noted.

He urged policymakers to focus on preventive justice, social reform, and accountability instead of relying on punitive laws that perpetuate violence.

Dr. Ojukwu acknowledged Nigeria’s informal moratorium on executions over the last decade, describing it as an encouraging step toward the eventual abolition of the death penalty.

“It is noteworthy that Nigeria has observed a de facto moratorium on executions for over ten years. Despite the continued issuance of death sentences, no executions have been carried out during this period. This restraint, though informal, reflects a growing recognition of the need for more humane and effective approaches to justice delivery in Nigeria,” he remarked.

He encouraged the government to formalize this moratorium and take steps toward abolishing the death penalty in line with international human rights standards.

A major highlight of the meeting was the validation of the research on gender and the death penalty in Nigeria, which revealed how women, especially those from marginalized communities, face compounded discrimination in the justice process from investigation to sentencing.

“This research brings to light the unique experiences and vulnerabilities faced by women and gender minorities within our criminal justice system. It shows that women, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, suffer compounded injustices from biased investigations to inadequate legal representation and sentencing disparities that often go unnoticed,” he explained.

He commended Hope Behind Bars Africa and its partners for their commitment to uncovering these realities and promoting gender-sensitive justice.

“Today’s gathering allows us to validate this important study, strengthen its recommendations, and advance advocacy for a justice system that upholds human rights for all. Let us remember that the death penalty does not protect society

it silences voices and undermines the very justice it claims to serve,” he said.

NHRC, NGO Calls for Abolition of Death Penalty for Female

Germany, Australia, ASF France Call for Abolition of Death Penalty in Nigeria

…Commends Committal of Death Sentence of Seven to Prison Term by President Tinubu

By: Michael Mike

German and Australian Embassies in Nigeria as well as Avocats Sans Frontières France, Nigeria have called for the abolition of death penalty in Nigeria.

The trio which jointly organized the screening of the movie “Just Mercy” in Abuja at the weekend, while appreciating that no one on death roll has been executed in the last nine years in Nigeria, call on both the federal and state governments to remove death penalty from our law.

The film was screened to commemorate the 2025 World Day Against the Death Penalty, with Avocats Sans Frontières France, Nigeria, with support from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Abuja, and the Australian High Commission in Nigeria, joining global voices to call for the abolition of the death penalty through the film and speeches.

The event is a part of their continued joint efforts for the protection of human rights and the promotion of a fair justice system. It brings together stakeholders and partners from the legal community, civil society organisations, government representatives, diplomats, students, private sector and the media, aiming to deepen the public’s understanding of the human rights implications of the death penalty and inspire dialogue toward its abolition in Nigeria and across Africa.

According to recent statistics, 26 African countries have abolished the death penalty, 14 countries still retain the death penalty, and 15 are classified as de facto abolitionists, which is a clear indication that the continent is progressively moving toward the global trend of ending this irreversible form of punishment.

The 2025 report from the Nigerian Correctional Service, shows that there are still over 3,500 persons on death row in Nigeria accounting for one of the largest death row populations in Sub Saharan Africa.

According to stakeholders, these figures highlight the urgency of sustained advocacy and reform toward the abolition of the death penalty in Nigeria. They however, commended the recent move by President Bola Tinubu, who commuted seven people on death row to life imprisonment, stating that this is an encouraging step that reflects the growing recognition for a more humane justice system.

Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Nigeria, Annett Günther, in her speech, reiterated Germany’s unwavering commitment to the global movement,

she said: “We think that the death penalty is not only a legal matter, but it touches on core values of justice, human dignity and the right to life. The irreversible nature of the death penalty means that mistakes and wrongful convictions are beyond correction. Germany abolished the death penalty more than 70 years ago, and we continue to advocate globally for its complete eradication.”

She said Germany would continue to appeal to friendly nations, including Nigeria, to abolish death penalty, while commending the recent action of President Tinubu, commuting death penalty of seven condemned criminals to prison terms.

Also, speaking at the event, Chargé d’Affaires of the Australian High Commission, Mr. Neil Sanderson, emphasized his government’s unwavering stance: “Australia’s position is clear, we oppose the death penalty in all circumstances and continue to call for its global abolition. It is a cruel, inhumane, and ineffective punishment that undermines human dignity and justice. Encouragingly, global momentum is growing, and we welcome Nigeria’s consideration of abolition as part of its constitutional reform process.”

He further noted that 144 countries are now abolitionist in law or practice, and across Africa, nations such as Ghana, Zambia, Sierra Leone, the Central African Republic, and Zimbabwe have recently taken this historic step.

Through the screening of the movie “Just Mercy,” a powerful true story about justice, redemption, and the fight against wrongful convictions, ASF France, said it aims to shed light on the moral, legal, and human costs associated with capital punishment.

In a brief statement, the Country Director of Avocats Sans Frontières France in Nigeria, Angela Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, said: “The World Day Against the Death Penalty serves as a reminder that justice must never come at the cost of human life. It is a call to empathy, reflection, and action. ASF France reaffirms its commitment by providing legal assistance and support to people facing the death penalty through its network of pro bono lawyers. So far, we have supported over 800 individuals facing the death penalty across 10 states in Nigeria, ensuring they receive adequate legal representation, fair and humane treatment under the law. ASF France stands with all those around the world who believe that every life has value and that dignity, not death, should be at the heart of justice. We call for a humane justice system for all.”

The trio, Avocats Sans Frontières France, Nigeria, the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Abuja, and the Australian High Commission in Nigeria together reaffirmed their call for an official moratorium on executions as a crucial step toward abolition of the death penalty.

Germany, Australia, ASF France Call for Abolition of Death Penalty in Nigeria