FG threatens drastic action against killing of Nigerians in South Africa

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*Onyeama

As NiDCOM seeks AU intervention
The federal government has reacted to the resurgence of killing of Nigerians in South Africa saying it would take sterner measures to address the situation.
The minister of foreign affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama who stated this in a tweet said “enough is enough” to the continuous and mindless xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and criminal looting of their property.
“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,” tweeted the minister.
It was gathered that the South Africans killed three people in their latest attacks on foreigners whose property were also looted and burnt.
The president of the Nigeria Union South Africa (NUSA), Mr. Adetola Olubajo, had in a statement on Monday raised the alarm that South Africans South Africans had on Sunday begun fresh attacks, looting and burning of businesses and properties belonging to foreigners and in the process killed three people, while another was still receiving treatment for smoke inhalation.
He said the attack which was the second within a week began on Sunday morning in Jeppestown area of Johannesburg when a building was set on fire by angry mobs.
Later in the evening, Olubajo said some group of violent locals suspected to be Zulu hostel dwellers attacked Jules street in Malvern, Johannesburg, looting and burning shops.
“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 arrests.
“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,” he said in a statement made available to NAN.
Olubajo said information gathered by members of NUSA in Malvern area indicated that over 50 shops/businesses were destroyed, looted and burnt overnight.
“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 has left many Nigerians traumatised.
“Nigerian-owned businesses were seriously affected. A car sales business owned by a Nigerian was among the several businesses set ablaze over the night.
“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 added,
He also said property 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 there was massive protest march in different parts of Johannesburg, which were targeted at foreign nationals, adding 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 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 added.
It would be recalled that on August 28, President Muhammadu Buhari and his South African counterpart, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa met at a summit in Japan where they both leaders agreed to meet in October.
Meanwhile, the chairman and chief executive officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said there may be a need for African Union’s intervention to stop the attacks on foreigners in South Africa.
Dabiri- Erewa, who took to her twitter handle @abikedabiri wrote: “Sad, Reports from South Africa attacking foreigners. I can’t verify most of the videos. However, whatever decisions to be taken now can only be at the Ministerial level. AU intervention may be crucial. This is not what we should be doing to ourselves as Africans.”

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