A former Nigerian ambassador to Spain and member of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Federal House of Representatives, Dr Kingsley S Ebenyi, has condemned the persistent persecution of Nigerians by the Malaysian police.
Ebenyi described as outrageous and provocative, the clampdown on Nigerian students in that country by the police.? The Malaysian police reportedly clamped down on any Nigerian in sight, including legitimate students who had committed no crime.?
In a statement issued by the legislative aide to the lawmaker, Mr Titus Agbo, the former ambassador said no nation would tolerate the continuous dehumanisation of its citizenry.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must liaise effectively with Nigerian missions overseas to be proactive and respond spontaneously to distress calls. We must make a statement that gone are the days Nigerians would be brutalised for no just cause. We must be seen to provide protection for our citizens wherever they are.
“There must be total re-orientation of embassy staff for quick response so that Nigerians will have a sense of belonging. Our foreign missions must embark on mass enlightenment of critical sectors and authorities of their host countries, such as the immigration, police and other security agencies,” Ebenyi maintained.
He urged the Foreign Affairs Ministry to intervene immediately on the fate of the brutalised Nigerians, especially students who were allegedly shot by the police, and tasked them to demand adequate compensation and prosecution of those who carried out the dastardly acts.