Thousands of Nigerians Freed From India Prisons as Fresh Amnesty Is Negotiated
Nigeria says thousands detained mainly over immigration offences have returned home, while its High Commission pursues another six-month amnesty for eligible Nigerians still in detention.
By Abdullahi Yusuf
Thousands of Nigerians detained in India mainly over immigration offences and other irregularities have been released and returned home following an amnesty secured by the Nigerian government, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) said.
The disclosure was contained in a statement signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, NiDCOM’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, in Abuja on September 13.
As of September 1, officials of the Nigerian High Commission in India had visited 198 Nigerian inmates across five prisons in Maharashtra, Mumbai, the statement said.
It added that more Nigerians were being held in prisons and detention facilities in other Indian provinces.
Between September 2025 and May 2026, the Nigerian High Commission secured an amnesty that led to the release and return home of thousands of Nigerians detained mainly for immigration offences and other irregularities.
Some, however, did not take advantage of the amnesty while it was available.
Nigeria is now seeking another opportunity for those still detained.
The statement said Nigeria’s High Commissioner to India, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, has been engaging her Indian counterpart over another six-month amnesty for Nigerians who have no pending trials but remain in detention camps over immigration-related offences.
The Nigerian High Commission is also handling individual cases, including that of a Nigerian identified as Ekene, whose detention in India has recently attracted public attention.
NiDCOM said the mission would examine his case and, if he is eligible to leave India, facilitate the process, subject to the required procedures and his family’s ability to raise funds for his return.
“The Nigerian High Commission is on his case and that of others in similar circumstances,” the statement said, adding that the mission had also been pressing the Indian government to expedite cases involving Nigerians awaiting trial.
NiDCOM Chairman/CEO Abike Dabiri-Erewa urged Nigerians living irregularly in India to take advantage of any new amnesty once implemented.
She warned that Nigerians who continue to stay in India illegally risk arrest.
The statement made clear that the amnesty being negotiated would not cover Nigerians awaiting trial for criminal offences, including drug-related cases.
NiDCOM again appealed to Nigerians abroad to obey the laws of their host countries and avoid offences that could result in arrest or detention.
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