Canuk joins in condemnation of attack on vehicles outside London high commission

DIASPORA community body the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (Canuk) has called for calm after a Nigerian Ewohime Apkovweta was arrested by the Metropolitan Police for damaging cars belonging to the high commission in London yesterday.

In an unprecedented development, Mr Apkovweta, 32 smashed the windscreens of seven cars outside the Nigerian high commission in central London yesterday afternoon. He appeared incensed at not being given his passport and on a fit of rage damaged five vehicles belonging to the mission and two belonging to private individuals that just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Over recent weeks, the shortage of passport booklets has led to a huge backlog of applications and with the busy summer travel period coming up, many disaporans are finding the experience frustrating. Also, the high commission building lacks facilities like vending machines, pay areas, wheelchair access, etc, meaning that the wait there can be very frustrating.

According to the high commission, Mr Apkovweta had arrived to collect his passport at 2pm but was told the section closed at 1pm. He, however, insisted on collecting the passport and then officials requested that he show them his collection slip which he could not produce and so he was subsequently turned away.

It appears that this made Mr Apkovweta snap as he then went away and returned with a weapon of some sort, with which he smashed up the cars. Hon Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, has condemned the attack, as an unconscionable act of indiscipline and unpatriotic.

Mr Apkovweta has already been arrested by the police and is likely to be charged to court for wilful damage. Applauding his arrest, Hon Dabiri-Erewa said she hopes the law takes its course and implored Nigerians to be good ambassadors of the country at all times and to exercise restraint when acting.

Responding to the incident, Canuk said it too would like to condemn the action of a passport applicant who destroyed property belonging to the high commission. According to Canuk chairman Dr Boma Douglas and the secretary Henry Okoli, the matter is under investigation and they hope that there is an outcome that would be clear to all.

Fortunately or high commissioner Justice George Oguntade, his official car was not one of those damaged yesterday as it is made of reinforced glass and steel. Being bullet proof, the car is almost impossible to damage.