Nigeria recalls envoy to Indonesia over assault on diplomat
The Federal Government says it has recalled its ambassador to Indonesia for consultation after a Nigerian diplomat was assaulted by immigration officials in the Asian country.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, on Tuesday, said the Nigerian government is also reviewing its diplomatic relations with Indonesia.
In a viral video, a Nigerian was manhandled by immigration officials on Saturday in front of his official quarters in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Three men were seen in a vehicle assaulting the official despite his screams of pain.
The minister had earlier summoned the Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr. Usra Hendra Harahap, to express displeasure over the development.
He said the incident was against international law and the Vienna Conventions governing Diplomatic and Consular Relations between States.
The Indonesian envoy, according to him had tendered an apology over the incident and assured that authorities in his country would take steps to address the issue.
Onyeama, while briefing journalists in Abuja, said the Nigerian Ambassador to Indonesia, Usman Ogah, is set to return home for consultations on the issue.
He said when the ministry noticed the video of the diplomat who was being restrained by his neck by Indonesian immigration officers in a moving car on social media; it immediately contacted the ambassador in Indonesia who gave a verbal account of what transpired.
The Minister added that the envoy confirmed that the video was true of a Nigerian diplomat in Indonesia and apparently, the illegal activity took place during a round-up by the Indonesian immigration officials while searching for irregular and illegal migrants in the country.
He further said the ministry immediately requested that the ambassador submit to the ministry, a full and a comprehensive report of what happened and to immediately reach the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia to lodge a formal and strong complaint against the actions of the immigration officers.
He stressed that the action of the immigration officers was a clear breach of the Vienna Convention, adding that it was an act of egregious international delinquency.