By Sunday Elom N
The 2020 Non-Career Ambassadors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, currently serving across the globe have condemned in strongest terms, what it described as unprovoked and unwarranted attack on a Nigerian diplomatic Officer by Indonesian Immigration Officials.The diplomats made the demand in a press release signed and made available to Orient Weekend on Friday by its Captain and High Commissioner to the Republic of Zambia, His Excellency, Amb. Ominyi Nwannebuike.According to the ambassadors, “The unprovoked barbaric manhandling of the Nigerian Diplomat is not only a violation of his rights but also a deliberate attempt to puncture the sovereign integrity of Nigeria as the pride of Africa. This should not be condoned! The United Nations, other relevant world bodies and lovers of peace must rise to the occasion to investigate the matter dispassionately and impose the appropriate sanctions as a deterrent to other countries.”The statement further maintained that “The despicable attack was not only a flagrant abuse, but also a deliberate violation of the rules of diplomatic engagements as enshrined in Article 29 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations which expressly states that “the person of a diplomatic agent shall be inviolable. He shall not be liable to any form of arrest or detention.“The receiving State shall treat him with due respect and shall take all appropriate steps to prevent any attack on his person, freedom or dignity.” Article 31 of the same convention provides that “a diplomatic agent shall enjoy immunity from the criminal jurisdiction of the receiving State.” These being the case, there is absolutely no circumstance under which a diplomatic agent should have been subjected to such torture and humiliation by state operators.”The diplomats however appreciated the prompt response of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, who summoned the Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria to register Nigeria’s protest, and therefore pledged their full support for the steps so far taken by the Honorable Minister in response to the “unacceptable treatment” meted out to the diplomat including the immediate recall for consultation of the Ambassador of Nigeria to Indonesia.“This is a clear demonstration of the responsive governance of the President Mohammadu Buhari-led administration. We make bold to salute this swift response by the Nigerian government,” Amb. Nwannebuike stated.However, he stated that “Notwithstanding these interim measures, we urge the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Assembly and every other critical and relevant arm and agency of government to deploy all means necessary to ensure the prompt procurement and execution of justice against the unprovoked, barbaric, and inhuman treatment of the diplomat by officers expected to have been trained in the discharge of their duties.“Adequate compensation for the officer’s treatment and for the aggravated assault suffered by him must also be demanded and obtained as soon as possible. This is one of the many ways to assuage the feelings of Nigerians for the shame and disgrace suffered by the diplomat and Nigerians in general.”Amb. Ominyi hinted the fact that as a result of the inhumane attack, “Foreign Service officers have become apprehensive for their safety. This should not be the case. The Federal Government of Nigeria and other world bodies must therefore show, by their handling of this matter, that Foreign Service officers anywhere in the world are safe and sound and free from any kind of harassment.”Recall that a few days ago, a viral video showed at least three men of Indonesian Immigration in a vehicle assaulting a Nigerian diplomat in front of his official residence in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital.The video footage shows how the official who was dressed in a white long-sleeve shirt was manhandled and tortured by immigration officials while he was crying out in pain and saying, “I can’t breathe, My neck, I can’t breathe.”
Unfortunately, despite crying out, the footage shows how two of the men held his hands and pinned him down in the backseat of the car, while another freely assaulted his face, Orient Weekend can report.
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