A Nigerian citizen, Salami Deyomi, has reportedly died in custody in the Republic of Benin due to prolonged illness and lack of medical attention. Deyomi is among over 200 Nigerians allegedly detained without trial under reportedly inhumane conditions in prisons across the neighbouring country.
In a letter dated September 16, 2025, human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju, representing Ekene Bonaventure, Chigozie Chiedozie, Hassan Ebbe, and more than 125 other indigent Nigerians, addressed the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and other key lawmakers, raising concerns over the prolonged detention without formal charges, lack of legal representation, inadequate medical care, and insufficient basic amenities. Adeyanju called for urgent intervention to prevent further loss of lives among the detained Nigerians.
The lawyer urged the National Assembly to initiate a fact-finding mission through the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Diaspora Relations, and Human Rights, to direct the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigeria’s embassy in Cotonou to secure immediate consular access for the detainees. He also called for diplomatic and parliamentary pressure on the Benin government to comply with ECOWAS and African Union Human Rights Charters. Copies of the letter were reportedly shared with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, and the Embassy of the Republic of Benin in Abuja.
Adeyanju emphasized that Nigeria’s international credibility is closely tied to how it defends the rights and dignity of its citizens abroad, urging swift action to safeguard lives and ensure humane treatment of those detained.
The incident underscores persistent human rights concerns for Nigerian citizens abroad, highlighting the need for proactive consular protection, diplomatic engagement, and adherence to international human rights standards. Analysts warn that failure to act decisively could further strain bilateral relations while exposing vulnerable citizens to avoidable suffering.
Reported by Stone Reporters News
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