Ex-inmates urge Nigeria to intervene for citizens jailed in Tanzania

Two Nigerian men, recently released from prisons in Tanzania, have made an urgent appeal to the Federal Government to secure the transfer of more than 30 other Nigerians who remain imprisoned in the East African nation. Okechukwu and Henry, who spoke separately to Saturday Vanguard, described dire prison conditions, the absence of parole for foreign nationals, and prolonged trial delays as factors exacerbating the suffering of Nigerians convicted or awaiting trial.

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One of them died in prison in 2016 while I was there. So, three of us remained.

They reported that over 30 Nigerians are held in various Tanzanian jails, with more than 20 concentrated in Ukonga Central Prison in Dar es Salaam. The former inmates implored the government to leverage the existing prisoner transfer agreement with Tanzania to facilitate their repatriation.

Okechukwu, deported three months ago after serving 15 years, was one of four Nigerians sentenced to 30 years for drug offenses. One of his compatriots died in prison in 2016. Their sentence was to be served from March 2011, with a release date initially set for 2031. However, a general remission granted by Tanzania's President in 2020, which reduced sentences by five years for those serving 30-year terms, allowed for their earlier release.

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After our release, we were taken to immigration detention and given three weeks to provide our own air tickets. They don’t buy tickets for anybody. Everybody has to fight for himself.

Henry, deported in October 2025 after spending six years on trial for alleged drug trafficking, faced a life sentence. He noted that upon release, deportees are held by immigration and must arrange and pay for their own air tickets within three weeks, or risk re-imprisonment. "God helped our families; we bought tickets and came back home," he said.

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I was arrested in 2016 on allegations of drug trafficking and spent six years on trial before being sentenced to life imprisonment.