The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) says the Nigerian High Commission in India is actively engaging with Indian authorities on the cases of hundreds of Nigerians held in various prisons across the country.
NiDCOM stated this in a press statement signed by its Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, in Abuja.
According to the Commission, officials of the Nigerian High Commission had, as of September 1, 2026, visited 198 Nigerian inmates across five prisons in Maharashtra, including Mumbai.
The Commission noted that more Nigerians were being held in prisons and detention facilities in other Indian provinces.
Amnesty
It said the High Commission had also secured an amnesty between September 2025 and May 2026 for thousands of Nigerians detained mainly for immigration offences and other irregularities.
NiDCOM said many of those released under the amnesty had since returned to Nigeria, although some Nigerians did not take advantage of the opportunity before the amnesty expired.
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The Commission further disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, had been engaging her Indian counterpart to secure another six-month amnesty for Nigerians detained in camps without ongoing criminal trials.
On the case of a Nigerian identified as Mr Ekene, which has attracted attention in India, NiDCOM said the Nigerian High Commission would investigate his circumstances and determine whether he qualifies for release under the applicable procedures.
“If he is one of those who can leave as soon as possible, he will, if his family can raise funds for him. But there are processes to be followed,” the Commission said.
NiDCOM assured that the High Commission was also pursuing the cases of other Nigerians in similar circumstances and putting pressure on Indian authorities to expedite cases involving Nigerians awaiting trial.
The Commission urged Nigerians living irregularly in India to take advantage of any new amnesty arrangement once it becomes effective.
“Those who are still staying there illegally should utilise the opportunity or risk being arrested,” Dr Dabiri-Erewa advised.
However, NiDCOM clarified that the amnesty would not cover Nigerians awaiting trial for serious criminal offences, including drug-related offences.
The Commission therefore appealed to Nigerians abroad to respect the laws of their host countries and avoid acts that could lead to arrest, prosecution or imprisonment.
“We appeal again to Nigerians to avoid offences or crimes and obey the laws of the countries they find themselves in,” it said.
