125 arrested for ‘breaking into Shoprite’ as IGP orders tight security around foreign businesses

Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of police (IGP), has ordered water-tight security around embassies, foreign missions and businesses in the country.

In a statement on Wednesday, Frank Mba, police spokesman, said the directive followed the reprisal attacks on South African-owned businesses in Lagos.

He added that the police have arrested 125 suspects involved in the attacks.

Many Nigerians were affected in the fresh xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

In what could be considered a revenge, some Nigerians looted business outlets owned by South Africans including Shoprite, a retail store.

Mba said the IGP has directed all zonal assistant inpectors general of police and commissioners to stay on red alert “to ensure no similar violence is replicated within the country.”

“The IGP condemns the violent attacks and notes that three police officers were seriously injured and a Police operational vehicle set ablaze,” he said in the statement issued Wednesday.

“He also notes that a total number of One Hundred and Twenty-Five (125) suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident while a good number of looted valuables have been recovered by the Police.

“While recognising the rights of citizens to air their views on salient national issues as enshrined in our statutes, the Force reiterates that these must be done within the confines of the law.

“Miscreants and criminally-minded people who masquerade as genuine protesters are therefore warned to stay-off the streets of Nigeria as the Force will not hesitate to bring to bear the full weight of the law on any such law breaker.

“Parents and Guardians are therefore enjoined to prevail on their children and wards to desist from acts capable of causing breakdown of law and order in the country.”

The xenophobic attacks had forced Nigeria to recall its high commissioner in South Africa while also pulling out of the World Economic Forum holding in the country.