August 10, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government has condemned strongly the assault of a Nigerian Diplomat by immigration officers in Indonesia.
The victim, whose name was not mentioned, was manhandled and arrested by immigration officers on Saturday, August 7, 2021, in front of his officer quarters in Jakarta.
A viral video of the event shows at least three men in a vehicle assaulting the officer, ignoring his screams of pain.
While two of the men held his hands and pinned him down in the backseat, another freely assaulted his unprotected head as he cried out in pain.
The Nigerian Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement on Monday: “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 officer quarters on 7, August, 2021.
“This unfortunate incident is against international law and the Vienna Conventions governing Diplomatic and Consular Relations between States.
“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 Nigeria Government has sent an official protest to the Government of Indonesia.”
In addition to the Indonesian Ambassador’s apology, the immigration officers responsible for the assault have also apologised to the victim.
“The Ambassador of Nigeria to Indonesia has confirmed that the immigration officer involved had since come to the Nigerian Embassy to apologise to the Ambassador and the diplomat concerned,” the Foreign Ministry added.
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