Indonesian Ambassador, culprits apologise for manhandling Nigerian diplomat in Jakarta (Video)
Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Federal Government has summoned the Ambassador of Indonesia to Nigeria, Usra Hendra Harahap, over the manhandling and arrest of a Nigerian Diplomatic agent in Jakarta.
A viral video showed the moment some Indonesian officials violently pressed the head and neck of the Nigerian official against the back of the chair in a moving vehicle, which appeared to be a bus.
At least two other officials were holding the hands of the Nigerian, with one putting his foot on his groin area.
The diplomat at some point starts yelling in pain, shouting that he cannot breathe, but the Indonesian officials ignore him.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement expressed the displeasure of the Nigerian government with the treatment meted out to the Nigerian, adding that the Indonesian Ambassador had been invited and he had subsequently apologized.
The statement read: “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 Ministry said the unfortunate incident was against international law and the Vienna Conventions governing Diplomatic and Consular Relations between States.
According to the statement, the Nigerian government has complained to the Government of Indonesia, and the Ambassador of Indonesia to Nigeria was summoned by the Nigerian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama.
The statement further revealed that the Ambassador had explained what he understood happened and had tendered an unreserved apology on behalf of his government.
It was learnt that the Ambassador of Nigeria to Indonesia has confirmed that the immigration officials involved in the manhandling and arrest had since come to the Nigerian Embassy to apologize to the Ambassador and the diplomat concerned.
