Nigerian vandalises embassy’s vehicles in London over passport

Out of frustration and anger that he was not issued his passport ostensibly after many visits to Nigeria’s embassy in London, a Nigerian left in rage and vented his anger on seven cars belonging to diplomats and visitors.

A Nigerian went on a rage on Monday at the Nigerian High Commission in London because of his inability to obtain his passport, damaging vehicles parked outside the premises of the embassy. According to official accounts of the incident, Jeffrey Apkovweta Ewohime had approached the embassy to collect his passport which expired since November 2017 at about 2 pm on Monday but was told that collection of passports closes at 1pm.

 

Ewohime was said to have insisted on collecting his passport, and was told to bring his collection slip which he could not produce. The embassy refused to hand over his passport to him, without his collection slip. He thereafter left the office “agitated and returned from a nearby hotel to destroy about seven cars – 5 belonging to the mission and 2 to visitors parked nearby”.

A video of the incident went viral immediately with many Nigerians expressing understanding for the action of the 32-year old Nigerian while others condemned him for damaging Nigerian government property.

Reacting to the incident, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has described the action of Ewohime as “despicable and condemnable”.

 

In a statement by her media aide, Ms Dabiri-Erewa said such an attitude was “unpatriotic, and an unconscionable act of indiscipline”.

The NIDCOM chief implored Nigerians abroad to exercise restraint and be good ambassadors of Nigeria at all times in all circumstances.

Ewohime is said to have been arrested by the police and will be prosecuted for the act of vandalism.

Sola Jolaoso