Over 600 Killed, 2,285 On Death Row In Nigeria – Amnesty

Over 600 Killed, 2,285 On Death Row In Nigeria – Amnesty

Amnesty International says at least 600 people were put to death and a total of 2,285 people currently on death row in Nigeria. The international rights group revealed this in its 2017 global review of the death penalty published on Thursday. It said the figures showed that Nigeria imposed the highest number of death sentences in the sub-Saharan Africa region in the previous year.

Amnesty International, however, commended other countries in the region who made “great strides” in the global fight to abolish the death penalty, with a significant decrease in death sentences being imposed. According to the report, Guinea became the 20th state in sub-Saharan Africa to abolish the death penalty for all crimes, while Kenya abolished the mandatory death penalty for murder. Burkina Faso and Chad also took steps to repeal this punishment with new or proposed laws.

“The progress in sub-Saharan Africa reinforced its position as a beacon of hope for abolition. The leadership of countries in this region gives fresh hope that the abolition of the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment is within reach. Unfortunately, some states in Nigeria continue to expand the scope of death sentences,” Amnesty International’s Secretary General Salil Shetty said.