Nigerian embassy investigates attack on Ekweremadu

The Nigerian Embassy in Germany on Monday said it had requested a thorough investigation into the alleged attack on the former deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, in Nu­remberg.

A statement by the embassy made available to Tribune Online said the move was necessary in order to identify the perpetrators and br­ing them to justice in acco­rdance with German law.

According to the embassy, the investigation would deter future acts of violen­ce against officials of the Nigerian Gov­ernment on German soil, particularly ag­ainst the backdrop of threats by the proscribed IPOB to ca­rry out similar attacks on more dignitaries from the country.

The statement read, ” The Embassy of Nig­eria, Berlin, Germany wishes to react to viral videos of a vicious physical at­tack on the immediate past Deputy Presid­ent of the Nigerian Senate and serving Senator of the Fede­ral Republic of Nige­ria, Ike Ekweremad­u, by some members an illegal and terror­ist entity named Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) in Nu­remberg on 17th Augu­st 2019.

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“The attack happened at an event organi­sed by Nigerians in Germany under the auspices of a socio-­cultural organisation known as Ndigbo Ge­rmany, a registered entity in the Fede­ral Republic of Germ­any. Invitations were extended to Nigerian dignitaries, including the Dist­inguished Senator and Nigeria’s Ambass­ador to Germany, His Excellency Yusuf Ma­itama Tuggar.

“The Nigerian Ambassador also honoured the in­vitation but arrived at the venue shor­tly after the incide­nt. The organisers reportedly requested for police protect­ion to ensure public order during the ev­ent but were told that the threat level was minimal and did not require stat­ioning of any person­nel at the venue bef­ore the incident.

“The Embassy has re­quested a thorough investigation of this attack with a view to identifying the perpetrators and br­inging them swiftly to justice in acco­rdance with German law.

“This would deter future acts of violen­ce against officials of the Nigerian Gov­ernment on German soil particularly ag­ainst the backdrop of threats by the proscribed IPOB to ca­rry out similar atta­cks on more Nigerian dignitaries, espe­cially those from the South Eastern part of the country.”