Tuesday_ 10th August, 2021: The Indonesia Ambassador to Nigeria has apologised over an assault on a Nigerian diplomat by immigration officers in Indonesia.
This was contained in a statement by Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announcing that the Indonesian ambassador was summoned.
Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, in the statement also condemned the assault, saying that it is unfortunate.
In a viral video, the victim, whose name could not be ascertained as of the time of filing this report, was harassed, manhandled and arrested by immigration officials on Saturday in front of his official quarters in Jarkarta, Indonesia.
No fewer than three men were also seen in a vehicle assaulting the official despite his screams of pain.
The Nigerian diplomat’s hands were held and his body pinned him down in the backseat.
Onyeama said the incident is against international law and the Vienna Conventions governing Diplomatic and Consular Relations between States.
He said, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in receipt of a report and has seen a video in circulation regarding an unacceptable incident in Jakarta, Indonesia.
“Concerning the manhandling and arrest of a Nigerian Diplomatic Agent in front of his official quarters on 7 August 2021.
“The Nigerian Government has complained strongly to the Government of Indonesia, and the Ambassador of Indonesia to Nigeria was summoned by the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
“The Ambassador explained what he understood happened and apologized unreservedly on behalf of the Government of Indonesia.
“The Nigerian Government has sent an official protest to the Government of Indonesia.
“The Ambassador of Nigeria to Indonesia has confirmed that the immigration officials involved had since come to the Nigerian Embassy to apologize to the Ambassador and the diplomat concerned.”
