The Counselling and Rehabilitation of Prisoners Initiative (CAROPI), an NGO, have pledged to collaborate with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM)  to assist Nigerians in the Diaspora who were victims of wrongful incarceration.

The two organisations announced their commitment in a statement signed by Gabriel Odu, a NiDCOM media official, and made available to NAN in Abuja on Tuesday.

The statement quoted the Chairman/CEO NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, as reiterating the need for an accurate and comprehensive database of Nigerians incarcerated in various prisons globally, at a closed door meeting she held with members of the CAROPI.

The four-man CAROPI team was led to the meeting by the President, Hajiya Rabia Cengis.

Ms. Dabiri-Erewa explained that efforts were underway to compile a detailed list of Nigerians wrongfully arrested and incarcerated, while being innocent of their alleged crimes.

She disclosed that the Commission had gone to several countries, such as Brazil, South-Africa, Togo and Benin Republic, to facilitate the release of some Nigerians wrongfully arrested and incarcerated.

The NiDCOM chair urged Nigerians travelling outside the country to be of good behaviour and avoid committing crimes or participating in criminality.

Also speaking at the meeting, Ms. Cengis explained that many Nigerians had been victims of wrongful arrest and incarceration in many of the countries she had visited and that this was an issue that needed to be addressed.

Other members of her delegation expressed optimism over a robust working relationship with NiDCOM in such areas as legal assistance, reintegration and rehabilitation as well as provision of a conducive environment for justice and equity for all.

NAN