Nigeria: Pain In Spain
EDITORIAL
23 July 2007
Posted to the web 23 July 2007
SPANISH ambassador to Nigeria Angel Lasoda in his lame defence of the brutalities visited on Mr. Osamuyia Aikpitanhi, a 23-year-old Nigerian the Spanish police murdered on June 9 insulted Nigerians.
During a meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives Mrs. Patricia Etteh, Mr. Lasoda said Aikpitanhi had a police record for assault in Spain and another one for murder and rape in Nigeria. The next breath, he asked that the incident should not adversely affect Nigeria's commercial and diplomatic relations with Spain.
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Therein lies the insults. Nigerian authorities did not request for the extradition of Aikpitanhi to face any criminal or civil charges. Even if they did, the treatment the Spaniards meted out to him belongs to the dark ages. The facts as admitted by the Spanish authorities are that Aikpitanhi had been living in Spain illegally for four years and resisted earlier attempts to deport him.
On June 9 the police administered tranquilisers on him, handcuffed him, chained his legs, gagged with industrial strength rubber and put a sack, over his head, after they had taken turns beating him. He died in the plane, choking in his vomit, with excrements all over him. Mr. Lasoda said he died in hospital, as if it makes a difference.
Official medical reports admit Aikpitanhi died of suffocation. Obviously, Mr. Lasoda is more concerned about the welfare of his country than the torture that Aikpitanhi's family is going through.
According to published reports, an Iberia Airline pilot protested to the Spanish authorities regarding the violation of Mr. Osamuyia Aikpitanhi's human rights and international treaties and conventions. Sustained complaints by the other 96 Nigerian passengers that were aboard the Lagos-bound aircraft were ignored.
Spain has every right to decide who resides in its territory, but it has no right to take anyone's life illegally and with the practised brutalities visited on Aikpitanhi. It is inconceivable that Spain would treat an American this way. This bestial treatment is reserved for Nigerians and other Africans.
The tasks before the Nigerian authorities include extracting an apology from Spain, the government. The one that Mr. Lasoda delivered from the police is inadequate. Additionally, Spain should pay compensation to address the welfare of the deceased's family.
Mr. Aikpitanhi's case got attention through the strident complaints of the passengers on the flight, Nigerians resident abroad and the human rights community.
The role of the Nigerian mission in Spain was anonymous. Officials of the embassy seem to be living in the era where government position was that illegal immigrants deserved the treatment they get. The travails start at the embassies where Nigerians queue for visas under the most humiliating conditions.
Why would Nigerians like Mr. Aikpitanhi live abroad with the humiliation and uncertainties they face? Some of the answers lie in the worsening economic situations in Nigeria. The inability of successive governments to guarantee even the barest living standards has left Nigerians with few options than the misery that finally claimed Aikpitanhi. In a way, Nigeria is culpable for the death of Aikpitanhi.
