Nigeria Explains Ethiopia Prisoner Transfer Deal, Denies Viral Inmate List

By: Michael Mike

The Federal Government has defended its recent agreement with Ethiopia on the transfer of sentenced persons, saying the deal is aimed at allowing Nigerian inmates serving jail terms in the East African country to complete their sentences at home under more humane conditions.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said the agreement aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s citizen diplomacy policy, which places the welfare of Nigerians abroad at the centre of the administration’s foreign policy.

The minister also dismissed as false a list circulating on social media claiming that 136 Nigerians were imprisoned in Ethiopia, describing both the figures and the crimes attributed to the inmates as fabricated.

According to her, only 98 Nigerian prisoners in Ethiopia’s maximum-security prisons are covered by the transfer arrangement.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu explained that negotiations for the agreement had spanned several years due to difficulties in establishing the actual number of Nigerian inmates held in Ethiopia’s prison facilities, particularly the maximum-security prisons at Kaliti and Aba Samuel.

She said many of the prisoners had repeatedly appealed to the Nigerian government to facilitate their return home because of harsh living conditions, inadequate healthcare, poor feeding, limited access to legal services, language barriers and the absence of family visitation rights.

The minister disclosed that four Nigerian inmates died while the two countries were finalising the agreement, underscoring the urgency of the intervention.

She described many of the prisoners as young and vulnerable Nigerians who had fallen victim to criminal syndicates and made regrettable choices, insisting that they still deserved humane treatment despite their offences.

Addressing concerns that the transferred inmates could be released upon their return to Nigeria, the minister clarified that the memorandum of understanding expressly prohibits the granting of pardon or amnesty without the consent of Ethiopia, the sentencing state.

She also rejected attempts to portray the inmates as belonging predominantly to one ethnic group, stressing that criminality should not be ethnicised.

“A lot of them are from the South-East. There are also those from the South-West and South-South. At the end of the day, crime has no ethnicity. All these people are Nigerian citizens in a foreign jail,” she said.

The minister added that the government remains committed to pursuing similar interventions for Nigerians facing legal and humanitarian challenges in other parts of the world, reaffirming that the protection of citizens abroad remains a major pillar of Nigeria’s foreign policy under the Renewed Hope administration.

Nigeria Explains Ethiopia Prisoner Transfer Deal, Denies Viral Inmate List

Hate Speech Threatens Democracy, Development Ahead of 2027 Polls, NHRC Warns

By: Michael Mike

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised concerns over the growing menace of hate speech in Nigeria, warning that inflammatory rhetoric could undermine democracy, trigger violence, and reverse the country’s developmental gains ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu, said hate speech constitutes a direct violation of human rights and poses a grave threat to national peace, unity, and sustainable development.

In a statement issued on the occasion of the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, Ojukwu stressed that hate speech strips individuals of their dignity and violates the principles of equality and non-discrimination enshrined in Article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

He noted that although freedom of expression is a fundamental right, it does not extend to speech that incites hatred, hostility, discrimination, or violence against others.

According to him, Nigeria’s legal framework already criminalises such conduct, citing Sections 24 and 26 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, which prohibit the deliberate dissemination of offensive and inflammatory messages through digital platforms.

The human rights advocate, however, maintained that legislation alone cannot curb the menace, insisting that political leaders, traditional rulers, religious figures, media organisations, and citizens all have a responsibility to exercise restraint and promote responsible communication.

He warned that unchecked hate speech has the capacity to fuel divisions and sow the seeds of conflict.

“When communities are pitched against one another, public trust collapses, businesses shut down, schools close, and investments disappear. Conflict destroys infrastructure, displaces families, and reverses years of developmental gains. No nation can build on the ruins of hatred,” he said.

Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Ojukwu cautioned that hate speech could compromise the credibility of the electoral process and infringe on citizens’ rights to participate freely in democratic governance.

He warned that incendiary rhetoric could intimidate voters, suppress participation, and deepen Nigeria’s ethnic and religious fault lines.

“Hate speech is not harmless talk. It is a trigger for conflict, a brake on national development, and a betrayal of our shared humanity. Let us not allow this monster to spread ahead of the 2027 general elections. If we do, we will pay for it with lives, livelihoods, and the future of our democracy,” he said.

The Chief Human Rights Officer of Nigeria called on Nigerians to reject divisive narratives, verify information before sharing it, and promptly report incitement to violence and discriminatory conduct to relevant authorities.

He also pledged that the Commission would continue to monitor, document, and respond to incidents of hate speech across the country as part of its mandate to protect human rights and promote social cohesion.

Hate Speech Threatens Democracy, Development Ahead of 2027 Polls, NHRC Warns

Heavy Gunfire, Explosions Reported Near Niamey Airport as Security Forces Deploy Across Capital

By: Zagazola Makama

Heavy gunfire and explosions were reported around Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, Niger’s capital, on Thursday, triggering a major security response and heightened tension across the city.

Multiple security sources said the incident began in the early hours of the day, with sustained gunfire reportedly lasting for more than two hours.

The exact nature of the incident remained unclear as of press time, with authorities yet to issue an official statement on whether it was a terrorist attack, an armed assault on security installations or an attempted counter-coup operation.

Residents in several parts of the capital were advised to remain indoors while security forces moved to contain the situation.

Sources said a security cordon was established around key locations in the city, extending to the Hospital Roundabout, while heavily armed personnel and military equipment were deployed at multiple checkpoints on roads leading to the Presidential Palace.

Witnesses reported an increased presence of security forces across strategic areas of the capital as authorities sought to restore calm and prevent any escalation.

Diori Hamani International Airport, which hosts Air Base 101, is regarded as one of Niger’s most strategic security installations and is located about 10 kilometres from the Presidential Palace.

The facility was previously targeted during an attack attributed to suspected Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) and ISWAP fighters on Jan. 28 and 29, 2026.

However, there was no immediate indication that Thursday’s incident was linked to the earlier attack, and no group had claimed responsibility as of the time of filing this report.

Sources said the situation was gradually stabilising, although security operations remained ongoing across the city.

Authorities are expected to provide further details as investigations continue.

Heavy Gunfire, Explosions Reported Near Niamey Airport as Security Forces Deploy Across Capital