PM raises issue of 11 Indians lodged in jail with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today raised with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari the issue of 11 Indian crew members languishing in a jail in that country.

During a bilateral meeting, both the leaders also discussed ways to enhance security and trade cooperation with Buhari noting that India has replaced the US as the largest oil importer from Nigeria.

Giving details of the meeting, Tanmaya Lal, Joint Secretary East and Southern Africa Division in MEA, said, "The Prime Minister raised a specific issue of 11 crew members of one of our ships who have been in jail in Nigeria for some time now.

"He made a personal request that if the judicial process can be expedited and their repatriation could be considered. The Nigerian President assured that he would immediately look into the matter."

Employee of a Merchant Navy firm, the crew had set sail for South Africa on October, 2013 from Mumbai. While returning in the month of July, 2014, their ship got stranded in Nigeria and the entire crew was arrested for violating laws of international waters.