Mixed Reactions As Indonesia Executes Three Nigerian Drug Couriers

[caption id="attachment_10370" align="alignnone" width="699"]PHOTO CREDIT: AFP/JIJIIndonesian woman Nila, sister-in-law of Nigerian Michael Titus Igweh, who was executed by firing squad, speaks to journalists in Cilacap on Thursday. [/caption]

Three Nigerians were among the four drug convicts executed in the early hours of Friday, by the Indonesia government.

The Nigerians, Seck Osmane, Humphrey Jefferson Ejike and Michael Titus Igweh, were killed by a firing squad at the Nusakambangan prison island.

Indonesia’s Deputy Attorney -General Noor Rachmand said that “the executions are only aimed at halting drug crimes,” adding that the execution of the remaining prisoners on death row will be carried out in stages.

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It was learnt that relatives of the executed prisoners were present to bid the men goodbye and their bodies will be returned to them for funerals.

Recall that just about a year ago, Indonesia executed 14 prisoners, mostly foreign drugs offenders, an action that caused a diplomatic outrage.

Human Rights activists and some governments have called on Indonesia to abolish capital punishment for drug couriers.

Those calls have however been unheeded as President Joko Widodo reiterated that drug trafficking is likened to terrorism in Indonesia.

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But in a sharp reaction, a Nigerian who simply identified himself as Michael said, “Our inept government should take action against Indonesia and expel the ambassador.

“I don’t have any problem with a sovereign country exercising its own laws. But I have a problem with discrimination.

“Indonesia would not dare execute white European or American citizens and most of those they have been executing including two Australians last year were non white.

“Even in the next batch of people to be executed there are more Nigerians in that list. They get away with it because Nigerians have no voice in their government and this administration like those before it are happy for Nigerians to be slaughtered like chickens all over the world without any consequences.”

Another Nigeria who pleaded anonymity said, “I have never supported drug traffickers or encouraged it in anyway.

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“I totally condemn the trade but capital punishment is too heavy.

“You need to be human, taking other people lives that you cannot bring back cannot be right in this circumstances. If there are no buyers, there wouldn’t be suppliers. Who are those buying those drugs in that country?

“This country is trying to be playing holier here yet they are not prosecuting the user or buyer but killing them. This country refused to listen to UN and other countries, they have being killing, but some people still go there with drugs don’t you think something is not right.

“Let’s be logical in our thinking. After someone has been killed and you find out it was a mistake or rather the person has not actually committed the offence what do you do. Or you think the country system are perfect?” he asked.

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