{
  "id": 7209368,
  "title": "NiDCOM: 198 Nigerians Visited in Maharashtra Prisons as FG Seeks Fresh Amnesty in India",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/nidcom-198-nigerians-visited-in-maharashtra-prisons-as-fg-seeks-fresh",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-14T00:46:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "This Day",
    "slug": "this-day",
    "url": "https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/09/14/nidcom-198-nigerians-visited-in-maharashtra-prisons-as-fg-seeks-fresh-amnesty-in-india/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Nigeria Foreign Affairs Commission (NiDCOM) has intensified diplomatic efforts in India to secure the release of Nigerians detained in the country's prisons. As part of this ongoing mission, the high commission visited 198 inmates in five Maharashtra prisons, with the objective of facilitating a fresh six-month amnesty for Nigerians facing immigration-related offenses.\n\nNiDCOM's Director of Media, Public Relations, and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, announced the prison visits as of September 1, 2026. The statement revealed that while some Nigerians have taken advantage of the previous amnesty program, others have yet to benefit from the opportunity or failed to do so before its expiry.\n\nNigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, is in active discussions with her Indian counterpart to negotiate a new amnesty for detained Nigerians who have no pending trials but are still in custody for immigration-related offenses. The commission stressed that the amnesty would not apply to those awaiting trial for criminal offenses, such as drug-related crimes.\n\nNiDCOM Chairman/CEO, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, urged Nigerians living illegally in India to make use of the upcoming amnesty program and warned that those who continued to remain in the country unlawfully risked arrest. The commission also called on Nigerians abroad to respect the laws of their host nation and avoid actions that could lead to arrest, prosecution, or prolonged detention.\n\nThe continued efforts of the NiDCOM highlight the ongoing issue of irregular migration involving Nigerians in India, where immigration violations have led to the detainment of nationals without valid documentation, alongside separate criminal cases that are subject to the Indian judicial process. The federal government remains committed to engaging Indian authorities on the welfare of detained Nigerians, accelerating pending cases, and repatriating those cleared to return home.",
  "summary": "Michael Olugbode in Abuja The federal government has intensified efforts to secure the release of Nigerians detained in India, with the Nigeria High Commission in the country visiting 198 inmates",
  "key_points": [
    "NiDCOM visited 198 Nigerians in five Maharashtra prisons on September 1, 2026.",
    "Fresh six-month amnesty sought for Nigerians with immigration offenses.",
    "Foreign Affairs Minister in talks with Indian counterpart for new amnesty."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Nigeria's efforts to secure release of detained citizens in India gain momentum with planned fresh amnesty, benefiting those facing immigration-related offenses but not criminal charges.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Trust",
        "title": "FG seeks extension of amnesty for overstayed Nigerians in India",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/fg-seeks-extension-of-amnesty-for-overstayed-nigerians-in-india",
        "published": "2026-09-14T00:28:46.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}