Amnesty International (AI) and rights activists in Nigeria yesterday staged a peaceful protest at the Indonesian embassy demanding it halts its plan to execute 14 persons, including five Nigerians.

AI Interim Country Director, Makmid Kamara, explaining the content of the letter, pleaded that the planned execution be commuted to prison terms.

Kamara stated that the protest was not just a Nigerian thing, but also a global campaign, adding that as an organisation, AI is against the death penalty.

In his words: “Nigerians have been executed in the past for drug-related offences and Amnesty International opposes the death penalty under all circumstances. We don’t think that drug-related offences are serious crimes to warrant the death penalty; so, we are calling on the Indonesian Government and all government’s across the world to abolish the death penalty, change the death penalty to prison terms, especially for those who are currently at risk of execution.

“Let the Nigerian authorities put pressure on the Indonesian government to save the lives of these Nigerians as well as the other nationalities at risk of being executed. This is the first time that Amnesty International in Nigeria together with our supporters and activists are calling on government to ensure that people at risk of executions are not executed.”

Kamara also stated “Carrying out the execution will not rid Indonesia of drugs. President Widodo’s era was supposed to represent a new start for human rights in Indonesia. Sadly, he could preside over the highest number of executions in the country’s democratic era at a time most countries have turned their back on this cruel practice.

“The Organisation is also concerned that some of the prisoners who could face the firing squad were convicted in manifestly unfair trials and have not submitted clemency request to the President.”

The Ambassador’s representative, Mr. Indra Noer, who received the protesters in his absence, promised to deliver the message to the envoy.