Diplomatic spat: Reps issue warning to Turkey.

– The House of Representatives demands that Turkey apologises for its ongoing crackdown on Nigerians in tertiary institutions in the country

– House member, Solomon Maren, from Plateau state, raised the motion under matter of urgent national importance

– Supporting the motion, Rotimi Agunsoye from Lagos, calls on Nigeria to openly reprimand Turkey for its actions
The House of Representatives has warned Turkish authorities to desist from the victimisation Nigerian citizens or risks indiscriminate arrest of her citizens in Nigeria as a retaliation for the “unjustifiable assault” on Nigerians.

Premium Times reports that Solomon Maren, a lawmaker from Plateau state, raised the motion under matter of urgent national importance shortly after the House resumed plenary on Tuesday, October 4. In recent months, Nigerian students studying in colleges across Turkey have complained about being unfairly targeted by the police and other security agencies in Istanbul, Ankara and other major cities in that country.

The crackdown on Nigerian students followed the ill-fated coup d’etat in the country on July 15, 2016.

Turkish president, Recep Tayyip-Erdogan, blamed the coup on anti-Turkey elements in foreign countries and responded by demanding the immediate closure of all Turkish colleges in Nigeria and other countries.

But the calls by President Erdogan was rejected by the Nigerian government which said it would pursue a diplomatic solution to the crisis.

The Turkish schools in Nigeria also denied links to the coup. Turkey has responded to the stance by the Nigerian government by clamping down on Nigerian students studying there.

Within the last one week, no fewer than 50 Nigerians have been arrested in Turkey and summarily deported.

The students alleged breach of their fundamental rights and urged a response and thorough investigation into their ordeal. Supporting the motion, Rotimi Agunsoye from Lagos, called on Nigeria should openly reprimand Turkey for its actions and demand formal apology.

But a lawmaker from Kaduna State, Adams Jagaba, advised the House should weigh in on the crisis with caution. Jagaba suggested that it would be counterproductive for the lawmakers to preempt the actions of the executive which has the traditional duty of diplomatic relations with foreign nations.

Responding to the motion, speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, ruled that the matter should be forwarded to committees on tertiary education, foreign affairs, interior and diaspora in support of the majority.

Meanwhile, the federal government has said it would summon the Turkish ambassador to Nigeria, Hakan Cakil, and demand an explanation for the deportation of the students.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said it will follow up on complaints made by Nigerian students in Turkey, and summon the ambassador for explanation for the deportations.

naij.com