The Nigerian government has reacted to reports that South African mobs are attacking Nigerians, burning their properties and even killing and maiming, in a fresh burst of xenophobia.
Geoffrey Onyeama, Nigeria’s foreign minister tweeted Nigeria’s exasperation to the ‘sickening and depressing news’ of attacks against Nigerian citizens.
Onyeama, who is not given to banging the table told the South African government: “Enough is Enough’ and promised that Nigerians will take ‘definitive measures’.
He did not however indicate what measures the country would pursue to protect Nigerians in South Africa.
The xenophobia raging in South Africa was discussed between President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigeria’s President Buhari on the sideline of the TICAD 7 meeting in Yokohama in Japan last week. President Buhari is scheduled to visit South Africa in October.
In a fresh report of xenophobic rage, South Africans attacked, looted and burnt businesses and properties belonging to foreigners.
Three Nigerians were also reportedly killed, while another is still receiving treatment for smoke inhalation.
The President of the Nigeria Union South Africa (NUSA), Adetola Olubajo said that the attacks began on Sunday morning in Jeppestown area of Johannesburg when a building was set ablaze by a mob.
“The mob also looted several shops that were around the vicinity suspected to be owned by foreign nationals.
“But the Police later dispersed the mob and made some arrest,’’ he said in a statement.
“Late in the evening of Sunday, Sept. 1, a group of violent locals suspected to be Zulu hostel dwellers besieged Jules Street in Malvern, Johannesburg looted and burned shops/businesses.’’
According to witnesses living on Jules street, the Zulu hostel dwellers were very organised and well-coordinated in looting and burning of any shops/businesses suspected to be owned by foreign nationals.
Olubajo said that information gathered by members of NUSA in Malvern area, indicated that over 50 shops/businesses were destroyed, looted and burnt over the night.
“Also, some businesses owned by foreign nationals were looted in Germiston on Sunday evening. A Nigerian-owned Internet Café and computer accessories business was among the looted shops in Germiston.
“When I got the sad news late yesterday (Sunday) evening, I immediately informed the Police in Jeppestown but lots of damage had been done already.
“The means of livelihood of people were looted and destroyed by fire overnight which have left many Nigerians traumatised.
“Nigerian-owned businesses were seriously affected. A car sales business owned by a Nigerian were among the several businesses set ablaze over the night.
Received sickening and depressing news of continued burning and looting of Nigerian shops and premises in #SouthAfrica by mindless criminals with ineffective police protection. Enough is enough. We will take definitive measures. @NigeriaGov @DigiCommsNG @GovernmentZA @DIRCO_ZA
— Geoffrey Onyeama (@GeoffreyOnyeama) September 2, 2019
“Although the Police said that many people had been arrested in connection with the unnecessary attacks, the looting and burning of foreign-owned businesses continued till Monday morning,’’ he said.
He added that properties and businesses belonging to foreign nationals worth millions of Rands had been lost to looting and burning in the past week at different locations in Pretoria and Johannesburg.
Olubajo said that there was massive protest march in different parts of Johannesburg which were targeted against foreign nationals, noting that some of the areas affected by the violent protest march were Rosettenville, Turfontein, Germison, Primrose and Silverton in Pretoria.
“We implore the security operatives to be proactive and not reactive as many long years hard earned investments have been lost through looting, destruction and burning.
“Our government officials in South Africa should also seriously engage their counterparts in South Africa.
“This proactive move will go a long way to prevent further loss of properties and even lives. The situation is tensed and very dangerous for foreign nationals, hence, we implore Nigerians in South Africa, most especially in Gauteng Province to be vigilant and stay safe,’’ he said.
Our parliament should start discussing issues like setting some better rules on who stays in our county. Instead of waisting time on discussing useless issues.