Nigeria Demands Protection Of Citizens Over Xenophobic Attacks In S/A
By Andah John with agency report
The Nigerian government has called on its South African counterpart to put in place measures to end the incessant xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in that country.
The Ministry had on Monday summoned the South Africa High Commissioner over the matter.
Nigerian buildings, property and places of worship worth millions of dollars were reported to have been destroyed by South Africans on 5 and 18 of February.
And Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hajiya Khadija Abba-Ibrahim, who gave the task, wants South African authorities to do more to protect Nigerians.
She made this known during a second summon to the High Commissioner of South Africa to Nigeria, Lulu Aaron-Mnguni, on the issue.
“The Federal Government strongly urges the South African government to take all necessary measures to protect the lives and foreigners living and working in South Africa.
“Furthermore, the federal government urges the South African Government to bring perpetrators of these deplorable acts of violence to justice.
“The ministry continues to urge Nigerians in South Africa to remain calm and law abiding, and be vigilant at the same time.’’
“The Federal Government of Nigeria will strenuously work towards the protection of Nigerians everywhere, including in South Africa,” she added.
No Nigerian has been killed – Minister
However, the minister said that no Nigerian lost their lives in the attacks contrary to reports in some media.
According to her, the reports that mentioned the killing of Nigerians in the xenophobic attacks are unsubstantiated.
“The ministry has not received the report of any death of Nigerian in the latest incidents of attacks against foreigners.
“The Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria is in constant touch with the Nigerian Union in South Africa, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) of South Africa, as well as the South African police.
“All these agencies have confirmed that no Nigerian life was lost in the recent incident,” she said.
Responding, the South Africa High Commissioner to Nigeria said his government was on top of the situation.
Aaron-Mnguni said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of South African will hold a briefing with the diplomatic community in his country on Friday to fashion out more ways to solve the problem.
