...Seek for Federal Government intervention 

The Apex Socio-cultural Youth organisation of Ndigbo, Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has submitted the list of 578 detainees of Nigerian Youths languishing in the Republic of Benin to Public Petition Committee National Assembly Abuja.

The national President of Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, and his team presented the list of 578 Nigerian youths illegally arrested and detained by the Republic of Benin in D'Akpro Misserete & Cotonou Prison to Public Petition Committee National Assembly Abuja.

We recall that earlier on 30th April 2023 the council led by Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka made a shocking revelation before the Public Petition Committee National Assembly Abuja that five thousand (5,000) Nigerian youths are held captive in 13 different Prisons in the Republic of Benin.

During the second Summon at Public Petition Committee hearing room, National Assembly Abuja, on 23rd May 2024, the House Chairman Public Petition committee, Rt. Hon. Mike Etaba, adopted the list of 578 detainees from Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) as a working document that will aid in investigation and intervention of federal government into the matter.

The respondent of petition, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who pleaded for more time on 30th April 2024 during the first summon by public petition committee in order to reach the Benin Republic Government, couldn't show up on the 23rd sitting. 

Speaking to the committee, the National President General, Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, urged the committee to accept the list of 578 detainees as a working document, which was granted by the Honorable Committee.

The Chairman, Public Petition committee, Rt. Hon. Mike Etaba, therefore summoned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to appear before the Honorable committee on the next sitting, for quick feedback concerning the letter they reported to have written to Benin Republic to get the actual numbers of Nigerians in the Republic of Benin prisons.

Comrade Igboayaka narrated the ugly situation Nigerian Youths who are doing their legitimate business are facing in the Republic of Benin, and urged the Committee to speed into action to rescue the innocent youths that are in excruciating agony in the Republic of Benin prisons.