Nigerians ‘attacked’ in fresh xenophobic unrest

The Nigerian Union in South Africa has reported new xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other foreigners in Sternkopf, Namakwa municipality of Northern Cape province of South Africa.

Ikechukwu Anyene, president of the union, told NAN in Pretoria, South Africa, that the chairman of the Northern Cape province of the union reported the incident to its national secretariat on Tuesday.

“The national secretariat of Nigeria union has received report of xenophobic attacks from Mr Kennedy Osagie, the Northern Cape province chapter chairman of the union,” he said.

“The report indicated that South Africans attacked Nigerians. Two cars belonging to Nigerians have been reportedly burnt and they have been going from house to house looting and destroying their property.”

Anyene, who said that there were 20 Nigerians living in the affected community, added that none had been reported dead in the incident.

“Six Nigerians have taken refuge with their families in nearby SpringBok community and they do not know the whereabouts of the other Nigerians,” he said.

He said that the union had reported the incident to the Nigerian consulate in South Africa.

Uche Ajulu-Okeke, Nigeria’s consul-general in South Africa, confirmed the incident, saying the mission had commenced investigations.

“The Nigerian consulate in South Africa has received report of new xenophobic attacks in Northern Cape Province of South Africa,” he said.

“The mission has commenced investigation into the incident and will ensure that Nigerians are safe in South Africa.”

During a meeting with the Nigerian community in South Africa at the end of the African Union summit in Johannesburg, President Muhammadu Buhari had appealed to Nigerians to obey the laws of their host country.

He noted that efforts were being put in place to compensate those affected in the last xenophobic incident.

“I listened to the president of South Africa, he spoke to us at length at xenophobia. In the draft, I was given, I cancelled xenophobia and replaced it with civil-disturbances,” he said.

“I refused to speak from this draft speech because I wanted to speak to you from the bottom of my heart, please keep Nigeria’s pride close to your heart, make sure you behave yourselves. If you find yourselves here obey their law, where you don’t obey their law you will have to bear the consequences.

“I hope our ambassador will send a comprehensive report about those who lost properties during the disturbances…”