By Christiana Ekpa
The House of Representatives has called for the need to address maltreatment of Nigerians in Indonesia.
This resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion brought by Hon. Lynda Chuba-Ikpeazu, (PDP, Anambra).
Presenting the motion in the House, Hon.Linda noted that Indonesia is a signatory to the United Nation’s Universal Declaration on Human Rights of 1948, which advocates for the protection of the fundamental rights and freedom of every human being.
“Despite various reports of the heavy-handedness of Indonesian security and law enforcement
officers towards Nigerians that have led to allegations of illegal arrests, detention, tortures, extortions, and other unreported fundamental human rights breaches, nothing has been done to reverse this unfortunate and unsavory trend.
She grieved over the recently reported death of Late Arinze Igweike on March 14, 2022, a bright and promising native of Onitsha, who was allegedly arrested in Jakarta by Indonesian Immigration Police for unidentified offences and eventually died in Police custody without any proceedings being brought against him.
She stated that, in July 2020 another Nigerian, identified as Chukwueze died after he was allegedly arrested,
extorted and tortured by Indonesian Immigration Officials, thereafter resulting in massive protests at the Nigeria Embassy in Jakarta against discrimination and targeted raids by Indonesian Officers.
She further notes that in August 2021, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the assault of a Nigerian diplomat by Immigration Officials in Jakarta, Indonesia, where the diplomat was manhandled and arrested in front of his official quarters.
