A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has urged the federal government to invoke the toughest sanctions permissible under international law against Indonesia.
A viral video had shown at least three men in a vehicle assaulting a Nigerian diplomat, Ibrahim Abdulrahman, in front of his official residence in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital.
The ugly incident triggered the Nigerian government to summon the Indonesian ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Usra Harahap, recall its envoy to Indonesia, and pledge to review bilateral relations with the Asian country.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama said the manhandling of the Nigerian diplomat took place during a round-up by Indonesian immigration officials searching for irregular migrants in the country.
The Indonesian envoy, during a meeting with Onyeama, insisted that the incident was triggered by Ibrahim’s refusal to identify himself when accosted by the immigration officers and that he also injured one of the officers during a scuffle.
Frank, in a statement in Abuja, called on the Nigerian government to slam the toughest sanctions on Indonesia to serve as a deterrent to other countries who may contemplate such barbaric and condemnable actions in the future.
He said it was high time for the Nigerian government and leaders of the black race to take urgent punitive measures to stop Indonesia from treating blacks like subhumans.
“Apart from severing diplomatic ties, Nigeria must end trade relations with Indonesia.
“A country that can treat a foreign diplomat like a common criminal just because of the colour of his skin is not worthy to be accorded any iota of decency by the world especially Nigeria,” Frank said.
