The federal government on Tuesday announced the recall of its ambassador to Indonesia over assault on a Nigerian diplomat in the Asian country.
Spokesperson for the federal ministry of foreign affairs, Ms. Esther Sunsuwa, disclosed this in a statement saying the action followed a viral video which showed Indonesian immigration officials allegedly assaulting a Nigerian diplomat inside a car.
“The ministry of foreign affairs has received a comprehensive report from the Nigerian Ambassador in Indonesia on the manhandling and arrest of a Nigerian diplomat.
“The Nigerian government demands appropriate sanctions against the relevant officials and has recalled its ambassador in Indonesia for consultations, including a review of bilateral relations,” she said.
Amid the reactions by Nigerians, the ministry assured that the federal government will keep protecting the rights of Nigerians in diaspora.
“The ministry of foreign affairs had previously summoned the Indonesian ambassador to the ministry to express outrage and to protest strongly.
“After studying the report of the Nigerian ambassador, the Nigerian government condemns in the strongest terms what is in effect an egregious act of international delinquency by Indonesian State actors against an accredited representative of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with absolutely no justification and against international law.
“The ministry of foreign affairs reaffirms its resolve to protect the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians wherever they are in the world and calls for calm as consultations continue,” the statement added.
Earlier, the minister of foreign affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyema had summoned the Indonesian envoy to Nigeria, Mr. Usra Harahap, over the matter.
Onyema who revealed this in a statement said the incident is against international law and the Vienna Conventions governing diplomatic and consular relations between states.
“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.”
