Federal Government of Nigeria has condemned the
execution of four Nigerians by the Indonesian authorities over
drug-related offences, despite pleas for clemency by President Goodluck
Jonathan.
While commiserating with
the families of the deceased, the Nigerian Government demanded the repatriation of the corpses
of the executed Nigerians.
It explained that they would be given decent burials by their various communities.
A terse statement on Wednesday from the
Public Communications Division of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja,
gave the names of the executed Nigerians as Martin Anderson, Okwudili
Oyatanze, Jaminu Abashin and Sylvester Obiekwe.
The government warned Nigerians to desist from drug trafficking and other offences.
The statement read in part, “The Federal
Government of Nigeria has received with deep disappointment, news of
the execution of four Nigerians ─ Martin Anderson, Okwudili Oyatanze,
Jaminu Abashin and Sylvester Obiekwe ─ by the government of Indonesia
for drug-related offences.
“These executions have taken place
despite spirited pleas for clemency made at the highest level by
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and more recently by the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali.
“The Federal Government wishes to express its condolences to the families of the deceased.
“It has asked the Indonesian government
for the repatriation of the remains of the executed persons so that they
can be accorded decent burials by their various communities.
“Furthermore, government is committed to
engage the government of Indonesia and other friendly countries
regarding the conclusion of Prisoner Transfer Agreements and other
bilateral means of safeguarding the interest and welfare of Nigerians.”
The convicts were reportedly taken to the Nusakambangan Island where they were executed by firing squad on Tuesday.
…Indonesia defends executions
Indonesia on Wednesday staunchly
defended its execution of seven foreigners including two Australians as a
vital front of its “war” on drugs as testimony emerged of how they went
singing to their deaths, The Times of India reports.
Australia withdrew its ambassador in
protest at the midnight executions, but Indonesian President, Joko
Widodo, said he was merely applying “the rule of law” against narcotics
traffickers.
The seven convicts – two from Australia,
one from Brazil and four from Africa – were shot by firing squad along
with one Indonesian, despite strident foreign appeals and pleas from
family members.
Brazil expressed “deep regret” at the
execution of its national, who is mentally ill according to his family,
and said it was weighing its next move.
The condemned men reportedly all refused
blindfolds and sang hymns, among them “Amazing Grace”, as they went to
face the firing squad in a jungle clearing, according to a pastor who
was with them.
As the clock ticked down to midnight, a
group of tearful supporters also sang hymns, embraced and held candles
aloft during a vigil at the port in Cilacap, the gateway to the prison
island of Nusakambangan.
After the executions, family members
could be seen crying as they were ushered away by friends and
supporters, an AFP reporter saw.
A Filipina originally set to be executed
was given an 11th hour reprieve after a woman who allegedly duped her
into ferrying drugs to Indonesia came forward to police in the
Philippines.
The reprieve for Mary Jane Veloso was
hailed in the Philippines as a miracle and a gift from God, but
Indonesian Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo stressed it was only a
“postponement” to allow time for police investigations.
0 comments:
Post a Comment