Nigeria reacts to execution and arrest of citizens in Saudi and Dubai United Arab Emirate.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has described the execution of a Nigerian woman by Saudi Arabian authority over drug related matters as very pathetic and tragic.
In a statement by her Media aide, Abdur-Rahman Balogun in Abuja, stated that the news of the execution of the woman over drug matters in Saudi Arabia was painful despite repeated warnings to Nigerians in that country to be law abiding.
Dabiri-Erewa said that it is regrettable that in spite of the wise counsel for Nigerians travelling to Saudi Arabia by relevant government agencies to obey the country’s laws, some Nigerians would remain contrary to law while abroad.
This particular execution is very worrisome especially when over eight Nigerians have been killed in the past few years over the same issue in Saudi Arabia, the statement added.
Dabiri –Erewa said that Nigerian government had made some pleas on behalf of some Nigerians with the Saudi Arabia government to temper justice with mercy, which had not yielded positive results. However, Nigerians in Saudi and other countries were advised to be good ambassador to the country wherever they are.
She added Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry said four people were executed on Monday for drug trafficking, including one woman, bringing to 53 the number of people put to death this year.
Two Pakistani men, a Yemeni man and a Nigerian woman were executed in the holy city of Makkah, the ministry said in a statement.
In 2018, Saudi Arabia carried out the death sentences of 120 people as carrying illicit drugs and some other related offences attract capital punishment in the country.