Eight Nigerians regain freedom after jail terms in Cameroon

Eight Nigerians  who served various jail terms in Cameroon, have regained their freedom. The Nigerian Consul General for The North West and South West Regions, H.E Ibrahim Bashir, in partnership with an eminent Nigerian, HRH EZE Thomas J Onyengubo, Eze Gburugburu 1 of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in Cameroon, paid the fines to secure.

Speaking during the ceremony to welcome the former inmates of the Buea Central Prison, His Excellency Ibrahim Bashir charged the ex-convicts to be steadfast and correct the mistakes that took them to prison.

The diplomat advised that they must hold no grudges against the government of Cameroon or the system, but to focus on rebuilding their lives.

“I hope they are not going to hold any grudges against the government or the system. They were there to be corrected. They have reflected over their offences during their stay in the correctional facility. They promised here by lifting up their right hands that they are going to be better than they were before their incarceration,” Bashir said.

The eight persons who were freed include: Ene Okon, Francis Eyo, Nsisong Udoh, Nsika Okon, David Okon Joseph, Kabiru alias Harap, Nkweriwem Edet and Samuel Johnson.

The release of the Nigerian nationals, the Consul General said, was the out- come of joint efforts of his and other prominent Nigerians.

This move, he added, highlights the vision of the Nigerian government and the Consul General to ensure that all Nigerians in Cameroon, under whatever conditions, feel the presence of the Federal Government.

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“The release of the eight is the product of weeks of back and forth with the prison officials. We put our resources together, partnered with a fellow Nigerian, HRH Eze Gburugburu, and we paid the fines for my fellow compatriots, some of who are young enough to be my kids, to regain freedom,” Bashir noted.

“They are all smiles and grateful to the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This is a testimony of our determination and desire to reach out to Nigerian nationals in whatever circumstances they find themselves,” he added.

The beneficiaries of the noble gesture from the Nigerian government, through the Consul General, were challenged to avoid anything that may cause them to go back to prison.

‘Become force for good in your communities’ the traditional ruler of Nigerians in Cameroon, Eze Jonathan Gburugburu I of Ohaneze, said, adding:  ”Remember Nelson Mandela spent years in prison and later became the President of South Africa. You people have to make a positive change. We hope to have you people as important personalities.”

He hinted  that the former inmates would  be transported to their various communities in Nigeria  where they will meet their parents and reflect on what they want to do from now on. “The Nigerian Consul General, in collaboration with other Nigerians in Cameroon, will bear the expenses of their trip back to Nigeria.”

The former inmates thanked the Consul General for not forgetting them. One of them, Nsisong Udoh, advised his peers not to do anything that would land them in prison again.

“I have been in prison and I have become a changed person. There is nothing that can take me go there again. I thank the Consul General for not letting us down, and for always coming there to visit us. I want to advise my friends out there that they should avoid anything in their life that can take them to prison,” Nsisong said.