Foreign Affairs Ministry Warns Against Fake List of Nigerian Inmates in Ethiopian Prisons

The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has debunked a list circulating online that claims to contain the number and identities of Nigerian inmates in Ethiopian prisons, describing the document as fake and misleading.

In a statement issued by the Ministry’s Spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the Ministry urged the public to disregard the document and rely only on official channels for accurate information.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the public that the list currently in circulation purporting to show the number of inmates in Ethiopian prisons is fake. Kindly disregard it,” the statement said.

The Ministry advised members of the public and media organisations to depend solely on official communications from the Ministry for updates concerning Nigerians abroad and related diplomatic matters.

It cautioned against the spread of unverified information, warning that such content can cause confusion, panic, and misinformation among families of Nigerians in detention and the general public.

The warning comes days after Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, visited Aba Samuel Prison in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The visit followed the signing of a bilateral Prisoner Transfer Agreement between Nigeria and Ethiopia on June 10, 2026. The agreement is expected to facilitate the transfer of about 100 Nigerians serving jail terms in Ethiopia to complete their sentences in Nigeria.

The Ministry said only information released through its official spokesperson, verified social media handles, and accredited media briefings should be considered authentic regarding the status and welfare of Nigerians in foreign custody.

It urged Nigerians with concerns about relatives abroad to contact the nearest Nigerian Mission or the Ministry’s Consular and Legal Department for accurate updates, rather than relying on social media posts and unverified documents.