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

About 20 communities deserted in Kwara by fleeing residents from bandits

By: Bodunrin Kayode

About 20 towns and villages have been abandoned by residents in southern kwara state due to the heinous activities of bandits in the general area.

The residents had to flee their ancestral homes because the bandits who started pouring in from Niger state in large numbers were not just kidnapping them like animals for ransom, they shot at any living being that they sighted without mercy.

The attack reached a crescendo when even the armed vigilantes known locally as “ode” were not spared because most of them had inferior weapons to what the bandits were carrying to unleash their genocide.

Residents of igbajo town who spoke with this reporter on phone hinted that their ancestral home would have been the next destination of the bandits if not for the saving grace of the Army command which mobilized from Ibadan to save the people from these part of the state.

The bandits had had a field day of a large chunk of northern and southern Kwara before the timely intervention of the GOC 2 division Major General Chinedu Nnebeife and his troops.

Some of the names of these abandoned towns include: Ologomo, Ajegunle, Agban, Alebe Owode, Alasoro, Alawan, Bankole, Oreke,Ganmu, Babanla, Ayetoro, Budo, Arifowomo, Apata, Olosun, Oreke Isale, Sagbe, Olohun Tele, Oke Ode, Ilu Agunjin.

Investiagtion reveals that Kara markets are cattle markets mainly run by Fulanis as such a lot of the bandits use that market as the conduit to penetrate both south and northern kwara and end up killing people at nights.

The Chairmen of the 7 local government areas in Kwara state ( Yoruba Igbomina, Ekiti, and Ibolo) had earlier ordered the closure of all Kara markets in the southern senatorial zone but unfortunately the Olupo of Ajassepo
Oba Atoloye Alebiosu directed the reopening of the market in his domain which is the biggest one in the entire state and an incubating venue for the bandits.

Bandits and boko haram insurgents have been working jointly to destabilize the entire northern Nigeria starting from the north east where they have held sway for 16 years, moving to the north west and now the north central sending hundreds to their early graves.

The Governors forum in Nigeria have equally approved the creation of state police to enable them take charge of their states and police the several lacuna that the overstretched federal police cannot handle.

But politics and government red tape keeps dragging the implementation backwards with some antagonist against such a good policy claiming that the Governors will have too much powers which they actually need to assist the federal authorities fight back against such wickedness from these bandits and insurgents.

It is obvious that both the federal forces and police are very much over stretched with a total population of less than a million personnel and not being able to meet even 30% of their responsibilities to the sub nationals making it difficult for residents to sleep with two eyes closed in northern Nigeria.

If the sub regional State police takes off as alluded recently by President Bola Tinubu after some skirmishes by bandits in Katsina, every community of over 2000 residents in the country will be entitled to a major police division which the federal police cannot afford to give to Nigerians now.

The desperate imposition of forest guards by the federal government would then be permanently restricted to monitor most of our porous borders until the political leadership sees sense in building the much needed fence to ward off these foreigners who come in with their strange agenda aided by some unscrupulous politicians to destabilize the country.

About 20 communities deserted in Kwara by fleeing residents from bandits

Gunmen attack policemen on patrol in Benue

By: Zagazola Makama

Two policemen have sustained gunshot injuries after being attacked by unknown gunmen along Ogobia–Adoka Road in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State.

Zagazola confirmed from sources that the incident in a statement on Monday, saying it occurred at about 9 p.m. on Sunday.

According to the sources , the officers, identified as Insp. Amos Okoh and Insp. Joseph Adowebo, were on routine patrol duty when they came under attack by the armed men.

The sources added that upon receiving the distress call, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Adoka mobilised a patrol team to the scene and evacuated the injured officers to the Teaching Hospital in Otukpo.

The injured policemen are said to be responding to treatment.

Meanwhile, the Command has launched a manhunt for the attackers to ensure their arrest and prosecution.

It also urged residents of the area to remain calm and provide useful information that could assist in apprehending the perpetrators.

Gunmen attack policemen on patrol in Benue