The Federal Government, FG, has reacted to the execution of a Nigerian woman in Saudi Arabia alongside three others for drug trafficking. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora, who described the news as pathetic, tragic and sad, added that most victims are not usually guilty as some airlines have been working with drug syndicates to put such drugs in the bags of unsuspecting passengers. She further disclosed that so far, eight Nigerians have been executed while 20 are on death row in Saudi Arabia.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa who reacted to the execution of the Nigerian woman in Saudi Arabia on behalf of the Federal Government (FG), said;
“We know that drug issues in Saudi Arabia attract death penalty, that will be the eighth Nigerian to be executed for drug in Saudi in the last few years and we have about 20 on death row for drug in that country and about 12 that have been sentenced to various jail terms.
“The issue with drug in Saudi is this, there are cases of syndicates who work with airlines who actually put these drugs in the bags of unsuspecting pilgrims.But we have had cases where truly they did commit the offence; so, we are appealing to the Saudi authorities to make the trial fair, open and ensure that justice is done; even if you are going to die, you die for an offence you have committed.
“I appeal to Nigerians, especially those going to Saudi with stuff; obey the laws of the land; even kola nut is treated as drug; so we continue to appeal to the Saudi authorities to treat some of the cases with some form of leniency.”