Human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has raised serious concerns over the alleged maltreatment of Nigerians in Benin Republic, describing the reports as “gory and despicable.” He appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio to urgently intervene and protect Nigerian citizens from further abuse.

Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, Adeyanju alleged that Nigerians in Benin Republic are often subjected to arbitrary arrests, inhumane detention, and degrading treatment, despite the country being a signatory to international human rights treaties. He revealed that his team has received chilling accounts of Nigerians who have been labeled criminals or prostitutes, denied access to lawyers, and in some cases jailed without fair trial.

Adeyanju narrated how a Nigerian student was unfairly convicted in Benin Republic after being branded a criminal and tried in French, a language he could not understand. He further alleged that detention facilities in the country are overcrowded, unhygienic, and unsafe, leading to deaths and widespread illness among prisoners. He also disclosed that a Nigerian pastor was allegedly chained in a hospital.

The activist warned that if the Nigerian government fails to act diplomatically, he and others may be forced to protest. According to him, the silence of relevant agencies like the Foreign Affairs Ministry and NIDCOM has worsened the plight of Nigerians abroad. He urged Tinubu’s administration to treat the situation as urgent, stressing that Nigeria must protect its citizens if it wants to be respected globally.