The Indonesian Government has defended the assault meted out on a Nigerian diplomat by that country’s immigration officials.
The incident which too place Jakarta on the 7th of August saw Abdurrahman Ibrahim being rough-handled by the officials in a viral video.
The diplomatic agent was said to have been brutally assaulted after he refused to produce his identification on demand.
Due to the outcry generated by the video, Nigeria threatened to review its relationship with Indonesia.
The Indonesian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Usra Harahap told The Punch on Wednesday that the Nigerian Diplomat assaulted the immigration officials first.
According to Harahap, “By that time, they met with Mr Ibrahim and politely requested him to show his travel document. He answered that his passport was in his room.
“The the officer asked again, ‘Can we see your travel document to check the resident permit and if there are no problems with the document, so you may continue your activities ?’ Mr Ibrahim was not willing to show his passport and say to the officer, ‘you will know who really I am and be carful on that.’
“Instead of showing his identity card, Mr Ibrahim was angry and said, ‘Just arrest me and you will regret to know who really I am.’
“The officer said, ‘We will not detain you, further sir if ou can show us your identity card.’ The Mr Ibrahim said, ‘Where is your car, I’ll come to your office.’
“On the way to the immigration office in South Jakarta, several incidents happened. Mr Ibrahim elbowed the immigration officer, Mr Laode Hauzan Baidi who was sitting next to him until Mr Laode’s lip was bleeding.
“This led to other officers restraining him from attacking another officer during the trip.
“He later showed his identity card. He revealed that the issues was resolved when the Nigerian High Commissioner to Indonesia arrived at the South Jakarta Immigration Office.“
Nigerian ambassador to Indonesia, Usman Ogarand Ibrahim are on their way to Nigeria at the time of this report.
Indonesia is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans
Read also:
Brutal Assault on Nigerian Diplomat by Indonesian Immigration (video)
Indonesian Government on Nigerian Diplomat