Angry Nigerians Attack Amaechi in Spain

By Gideon Njoku

Nigeria’s Minister for Transportation,  Chibuike Amaechi, Friday evening, had a taste of the anger and frustration of Nigerians. It was in Spain.

He was attacked by angry Nigerians. He would have been hurt, but for the quick intervention of the Spanish police who rescued him.

Amaechi had gone on an official assignment at a Climate change event when he was confronted by some Nigerians in that country.

Confirming the attack in a post, as soon as he was rescued, the Minister described his attackers as misguided.

Amaechi: “Some minutes ago, I was attacked by a few misguided Nigerians while on national assignment at a Climate Change event in Madrid, Spain. They were quickly repelled by the Spanish Police before they could do any harm”.

He assured he was not hurt, and was fine.

Even though he did not disclose the identity of his attackers, former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu had the same humiliating experience in Nuremberg, Germany.

Ekweremadu had gone to honour an invitation by his Igbo kinsmen during a new yam festival when a group of Igbo people, allegedly, IPOB members, pounced on him. He was physically attacked, and his clothes, torn. He was smuggled out of the venue, and fled Nuremberg. Till date, no word has been heard about the attackers.

IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu had promised that his group would attack, especially, high profile politicians of Igbo origin outside Nigeria’s shores.

Since that threat, a number of high profile  politicians, especially, of Igbo stock, have been cautious in their trips outside Nigeria. They have largely ignored most invitations extended to them by Nigerians in the Diaspora who accuse them of corruption.

Being Igbo, even though he is from the South-south, it is not known if  Amaechi was attacked  by IPOB members, or other angry Nigerians. But, from his post, he seems luckier than Ekweremadu.

This attack on Amaechi, in Spain, is likely to instill fears into Nigeria’s political leaders who travel out at the drop of a hat.

They seem to have become endangered.