The latest xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living
in South Africa was as a result of the clash between taxi drivers and drug
dealers in South Africa, it has been learnt.
A reliable source in the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs told journalists on Monday that the clash led to the death of a taxi
driver, and a South African media outfit
allegedly reported that the taxi driver was killed by a Nigerian, which now led
to the escalation of the attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
The source also denied that the attack on the Nigerian embassy in South Africa was carried out by Nigerians who felt the
embassy had not done enough to protect them and not by South Africans.
The source stated: "What happened was that
there was a clash between taxi drivers and drug dealers in South Africa and in
the process one of the taxi drivers was killed.
"One of the South African media outfits carried
the news that the late driver who was killed by a Nigerian, and because of
that, they started attacking and looting Nigerians shops and property
"The mission decided to salvage the situation
by rescuing some and even taking some persons that took their property to the
confine of the embassy
"But after that, there were other dissatisfied
Nigerians that felt the embassy did not do enough to protect them, they went to
attack the Nigerian embassy. The attack is not by South Africans but by
Nigerians on the Nigerian embassy, so in the process, they vandalised the gate
house before the issue was curtailed.
"The situation has been brought under control,
but we requested the Mission to send a detailed report so that we can issue a
statement but they have not done that, we don't want to issue a statement based
on hearsay."
Meanwhile, the federal government has promised to
take definite actions as part of the efforts to end the escalation of xenophobic
attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama,
stated this in a tweet while reacting to the recent attacks on Nigerians in
South Africa.
He tweeted, "I 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."
The President of the Nigeria Union South Africa
(NUSA), Adetola Olubajo, had in a statement
on Monday raised the alarm that the South Africans have begun fresh
attacks, looting, and burning of businesses and property belonging to foreigners, and in the process, killed three people, while another is still receiving
treatment for smoke inhalation.
He revealed that the attacks began on Sunday
morning in Jeppestown area of Johannesburg when a building was set ablaze by an
angry mob.
Olubajo added, “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,."
“Late in the evening of Sunday, September 1, a
group of violent locals suspected to be Zulu hostel dwellers besieged Jules
Street in Malvern, Johannesburg looted and burned shops/businesses.’’
Meanwhile,
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned the
prolonged violent xenophobic attacks specifically targeting Nigerians and other
nationals living and doing their
businesses in South Africa.
The National Coordinator of the group, Emmanuel
Onwubiko, in a statement yesterday said the rights group has watched just like
millions of other Nigerians have also watched videos and photographic evidence
detailing graphic and gory treatments and violence unleashed on Nigerians and
other Africans that are resident in
South Africa.
He stated: "We are amazed, shocked,
disappointed that the president of Nigeria and the government of Nigeria have
watched helplessly as our citizens are being butchered in their hundreds in
South Africa by black South Africans and government has so far refused to adopt
and implement a stringent diplomatic blockade and measures against the South
Africa business concerns in Nigeria, It is unfortunate.
"It is not enough to say Nigeria will take
decisive action. We want those actions announced and implemented immediately.
Nigerians should take their future in their hands.
Onwubiko noted that Nigerians should stop paying
South Africa businesses, while also calling on those who have MTN lines to cut
it off and go for other lines, adding that Nigerians should protest in South Africa
embassy and South Africa business premises all over the country.
The rights group said South African xenophobic
violence has demonstrated that even the South African Government is guilty by
association
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