British High Commissioner to Nigeria appeals to abolish death penalty

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Paul Arkwright, made a statement on the 2016 World Day. He appealed to Nigeria to abolish the death penalty.

The appeal of the British High Commissioner to Nigeria included the words about the worth of a human life. The death penalty, according to Paul Arkwright, fuelled hatred, extremism and terrorism. October 10 is the World Day against the Death Penalty, it was set aside to reflect on and act on the urgent need to abolish capital punishment all over the planet.

Mr Arkwright said in the modern world the death penalty is unacceptable, such an inhuman action undermines human dignity. The diplomat added in his statement that
there is no conclusive evidence of its deterrent value, adding that any miscarriage of justice leading to its imposition is irreversible and irreparable:

“I am concerned therefore that Nigeria, a model for democracy in Africa, still retains the death penalty in its laws.”

Arkwright reminded in the statement that many African countries had abolished a death penalty, so, the trajectory was very much towards abolition across the continent.