Nigeria Secures Amnesty For Nigerians In India Prisons, Says NiDCOM

The Federal Government has said the Nigerian High Commission in India is actively working to assist hundreds of Nigerians detained in various prisons across the country.

According to a statement by the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abdur-Rahman Balogun, as of September 1, officials of the Nigerian High Commission had visited 198 Nigerian inmates across five prisons in Maharashtra, Mumbai.

The commission said there are still more Nigerians incarcerated in prisons across other provinces in India.

It added that between September 2025 and May 2026, the Nigerian High Commission secured amnesty for thousands of Nigerians held in Indian prisons, mainly over immigration offences and other irregularities.

According to the statement, those covered by the amnesty were released and returned to Nigeria, although some Nigerians did not take advantage of the opportunity at the time it was granted.

NiDCOM said Nigeria’s High Commissioner to India, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, has also been engaging her Indian counterpart over another six-month amnesty for Nigerians who have not been tried but remain in detention camps over various offences.

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On the case of a Nigerian identified as Mr Ekene, the commission said the Nigerian High Commission would examine his situation and determine whether he qualifies for release and return to Nigeria.

“If he is one of those that can leave as soon as possible, he will, if his family can raise funds for him. But there are processes to be followed,” the statement said.

NiDCOM said the Nigerian High Commission was also handling the cases of other Nigerians in similar circumstances while putting pressure on the Indian government to expedite cases involving Nigerians awaiting trial for various offences.

NiDCOM Chairman and CEO, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, advised Nigerians living irregularly in India to take advantage of any new amnesty arrangement when it is implemented.

“Nigerians in India, who are in India irregularly should take advantage of the next set of amnesty being negotiated when effected while others who are still staying there illegally, should utilise the opportunity or risk been arrested,” Dabiri-Erewa advised.

She added that those who benefit from the amnesty would not be required to pay penalties but would have to bear the cost of their return to Nigeria.

However, NiDCOM clarified that the amnesty would not cover Nigerians awaiting trial for criminal offences, including drug-related offences.

The commission appealed to Nigerians living abroad to avoid criminal activities and comply with the laws of the countries where they reside.