Nigeria’s High Commissioner to India, Saidu Dahiru Muhammad, has met with nearly 200 Nigerian citizens detained in Indian prisons as part of a drive to bolster “citizen-centred diplomacy.”
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Mr. Muhammad said he conducted direct interactions with 198 Nigerian detainees across several correctional facilities over three days.
Among those visited were 19 women and girls, as well as groups of inmates housed in facilities holding between 16 and 70 Nigerian nationals.
“This is to show that our government is concerned about its citizens,” Mr. Muhammad said. “We call it citizen-centred diplomacy.”
The envoy explained that detainees raised concerns regarding alleged maltreatment, racial discrimination, limited access to legal counsel, and delays in court proceedings.
However, following discussions with prison authorities, Mr. Muhammad noted that many of the delays stemmed from prolonged judicial processes rather than the conduct of correctional staff.
“We realized that prison officials were generally cooperative, but many detainees are awaiting trial, and the judicial process takes time,” he said, emphasizing that all detainees’ fundamental human rights must be respected regardless of the allegations against them.
The mission has submitted a detailed report recommending remedial action to Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
Since assuming office seven weeks ago, Mr Muhammad has sent weekly dispatches to Abuja to track cases involving Nigerian nationals.
Acknowledging operational challenges—including funding constraints across India’s population of 1.4 billion—he assured that the mission remains open to serving the Nigerian diaspora and protecting their rights.
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