21 drug peddlers of the drugpeddlers on death roll in Indonesia 20 are from Anambra - Abike Dabiri-Erewa

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), revealed that a trip she made to the Indonesian prison a few years ago revealed that out of the 21 Nigerian drug peddlers on death roll, 20 were from the Anambra state, while the rest were from the Edo state.

In a recent interview with The Cable, Dabiri-Erewa revealed this. She observed that the committee is working to raise awareness of the ills of drug trafficking, especially reminding Nigerians that death awaits them in some nations if they venture into drug trafficking as they collect their passports.

She answered a query as to whether the commission offers advice to Nigerians detained for drug trafficking just like some other nations.

The commission is planning that. So, with the commission on board, we are going to take it embassy by embassy. For example, if you are going to Indonesia and you carry drugs, you are dying. There is no debate. We went to Indonesia prison some years back, 21 Nigerians were on death row, and 20 were from one state – 20 were from Anambra state, and one from Edo. And when you get to the (Indonesian) airport, it is written all over, “penalty for drugs is death”.

So, from the point of leaving, we are going to be working with the NDLEA, with the embassies; in fact, as you collect your passport, they will tell you if you carry drugs, you are going to die. So, that is what the commission will be doing from country to country.

In India, for instance, if you say you are going to study, and you are going as a student. If you finish your education and you stay there, they will lock you up. India will not give you work. They will not employ you. So, we are going to have an information center that will be dealing with all those issues. We are going to have a place that you can call if you are in distress. That is almost at the final stage, so yes, it is important to share information. But I tell you, despite sharing this information, some will still do (what they want). But at least, let us know that we have given out all this information''.