By Victoria Ojeme

ABUJA—Retired Ambassador Suleiman Dahiru has condemned the kidnap of Sierra Leonean Deputy High Commissioner in Nigeria, describing it  as a bad signal.

Ambassador Dahiru, who has served in Brazil, Angola, United States of America, Poland, Ivory Coast, Austria, Sudan and Pakistan, said:    “Let’s agree that foreigners have been kidnapped but the difference here is that he is a diplomat.” Many countries will now advise their diplomats to be careful of their movements in Nigeria and it is not supposed to be so.

’’Diplomats are supposed to know the states and capital of duty of assignment; they are not suppose to remain in the capital of that country alone. Let me also say this, knowing fully well the security challenges Nigeria is facing, even on our high ways, why should an Ambassador be going for an event without Police security?’’ he argued

The Ambassador, who was kidnapped in the early hours of last Friday on his way to Kaduna to honour an invitation for a military function, sent a note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs early Friday on the issue.

In another development, the Federal Government has concluded plans to close down some of its missions abroad.It will be recalled in some recent reports that many Nigerian missions abroad could hardly pay their staff rents and children’s school fees.