Over 12 hours after four Nigerians were executed in Indonesia, the Nigerian government is yet to make an official statement over their killing. This is despite the fact that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan had pleaded with the Indonesian government to spare the lives of the Four Nigerians who were found guilty of drug trafficking.
Before they were executed yesterday, the deceased had served prison terms, some up to 10 years for the offence. The four of them are Martin Anderson [50], Okwuduli Oyetanze [41], Jamiu Owolabi Abashin [50] and Sylvester Obiekwe Nwolise [47].
The silence from Abuja is being frowned at by Nigerians, particularly when they realized that Australia, which has two of her nationals killed in like manner has responded promptly by recalling her envoy to Indonesia. Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were among eight people from several countries executed by firing squad in the early hours of Wednesday on the prison island of Nusakambangan.
What must have irked the Australian government was the pleas made by the government, like the Nigerian government, for the Indonesian government to give the convicts another chance, so they can be rehabilitated. The concern in particular was that since the convicts had repented in prison and could likely live a better life out of prison, it was better they were given another chance, instead of killing them.
But the Indonesian government had argued that a good number of its citizens die daily as a result of the effect of drug. So it ignored the pleas of the affected countries and the United Nations for it not to use the capital punishment.
Brazil’s government also expressed its “deep dismay” at the execution of one of its citizens, Rodrigo Gularte. But the execution of a Philippine woman was called off at the last minute. Four Nigerians were also part of the condemned.
Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso was spared after Philippines officials said a woman she had accused of planting drugs on her was in police custody.
The families of the condemned prisoners paid them final visits on Tuesday afternoon before the sentences were carried out.
Hours after the executions, ambulances left the prison island, taking the prisoners’ bodies to their chosen funeral sites in Indonesia or their home countries.
The silence from Abuja is being frowned at by Nigerians, particularly when they realized that Australia, which has two of her nationals killed in like manner has responded promptly by recalling her envoy to Indonesia. Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran were among eight people from several countries executed by firing squad in the early hours of Wednesday on the prison island of Nusakambangan.
What must have irked the Australian government was the pleas made by the government, like the Nigerian government, for the Indonesian government to give the convicts another chance, so they can be rehabilitated. The concern in particular was that since the convicts had repented in prison and could likely live a better life out of prison, it was better they were given another chance, instead of killing them.
But the Indonesian government had argued that a good number of its citizens die daily as a result of the effect of drug. So it ignored the pleas of the affected countries and the United Nations for it not to use the capital punishment.
Brazil’s government also expressed its “deep dismay” at the execution of one of its citizens, Rodrigo Gularte. But the execution of a Philippine woman was called off at the last minute. Four Nigerians were also part of the condemned.
Mary Jane Fiesta Veloso was spared after Philippines officials said a woman she had accused of planting drugs on her was in police custody.
The families of the condemned prisoners paid them final visits on Tuesday afternoon before the sentences were carried out.
Hours after the executions, ambulances left the prison island, taking the prisoners’ bodies to their chosen funeral sites in Indonesia or their home countries.