Calabar—Bishop Frank Owali of the World Overseer of Hebron-Harvest International Ministry, with headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, has raised alarm over alleged hostile treatment and harassment of Nigerians by the authorities of Thailand.
The cleric, who fled the country, alleged that at the time of his departure no fewer than 700 Nigerians have been arrested and clamped into detention in various towns in and around Bangkok. He said there were no effort by officials of Nigerian Embassy in the country to wade in the matter.
Read more: vanguardngr.com
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I find this article very troubling. It seems many Nigerians have been mistreated in Thailand, especially in the prison system. But I am even more disturbed that, according to this article, Nigerian officials in Thailand are doing little to intervene in this unfair treatment. Nigerians in Thailand tend to be stereotyped as drug dealers and traffickers. Because of these labels, which are sometimes true, they are often regarded with wariness or hostility in Thailand. The embassies of many countries in Thailand provide their citizens with a Thailand lawyer upon arrest or investigation. This article implies that the Nigerian Embassy in Thailand is not providing this service for their citizens. It is truly a shame to hear about people dying in prison or being denied a fair trial. I think that it is up to governments to protect their citizens abroad by offering reliable and efficient social and legal services.