Nigerians top list of latest drug convicts to be executed in Indonesia

Nigeria has the highest number of people among those currently awaiting execution by firing squad in Indonesia.

The community legal aid institute, which is advocating for the 14 convicts, gave the breakdown of those on death row as six Nigerians, four Indonesians, two Zimbabweans, one Indian and one Pakistani.

Families were granted last visits on Thursday as executions loomed for the convicts, who were arrested for alleged drug trafficking.

Antonius Karwayu, the lawyer who represented two of the convicts, said they could be killed at the Nusa Kambangan prison complex off the coast of Java.

“The families have been notified that there would be executions and the convicts had been asked for their last wishes,” Karwayu said.

“Their families were given until 3 pm today to visit them so it is likely that the executions would be carried out tonight.”

The attorney-general’s office has not announced a date for the executions but spokesman Muhammad Rum confirmed that 14 convicts would be executed soon.

“I have only been informed of those three names,” he said.

Local and international human rights groups have urged Indonesian President Joko Widodo to halt the impending executions.

In 2015, Indonesia executed 14 death-row convicts in a move that drew criticism from the UN and the EU.

According to the Indonesian justice ministry, about 121 people are currently on death row in Indonesia, including 35 foreigners, mainly for drug-related crimes.

Widodo has taken a tough stance against drug trafficking since his election in 2014, saying the country is facing a drug emergency.