Indonesia executes 2 Nigerians for drug offences

The Indonesia government has executed two Nigerians for drug offences, Nigeria’s ministry of foreign affairs disclosed on Sunday.

According to Ogbole Amedu Ode, spokesperson of the ministry,the Indonesian authorities executed the two Nigerians despite entreaties by the Nigerian government for clemency.

“The federal government has received with huge disappointment the tragic news of the execution by firing squad of two Nigerians, Messers Solomon Chibuike Okafor, (Alias Namaona Denils) and Daniels Enemuo, (Alias Diarrassoube Mamadou) by the government of Indonesia,” he said.

“The Nigerians were executed for drug offences at the Island of Nusakambangu in Cilacap, Central Java Province. Also executed with them were two women (one each from Indonesia and Vietnam), two Brazilians, and one Dutch national.

“The executions were carried out despite persistent pleas for clemency made by the federal government, including the national assembly. The executions, had taken place against the grain of the excellent relations that subsist between Nigeria and Indonesia.

“The federal government seizes this opportunity to express its sympathy and condolences to the families of the deceased. It reiterates its appeal to all Nigerians to desist from drug trafficking, which attracts the capital punishment in Indonesia and in many other countries around the world.”

Ode added that the foreign affairs ministry had summoned the Indonesian ambassador to register its protest, even as it appealed to the Indonesian government to grant clemency to 12 other Nigerians still on death row.

“The government will continue to engage the Indonesian authorities to negotiate and conclude a prisoner transfer agreement that may enable other convicted Nigerians to return home to serve their prison terms. Thus, the foreign minister has summoned the Indonesian ambassador to register Nigeria’s protest,” he said.

“Meantime, it strongly appeals, once again, to the Indonesian authorities to exercise clemency for other 12 Nigerians on the death row in the country.”