Eight Nigerians kidnapped in South Africa regain freedom

April 3, 2019 4:27 pm

A student throws a rock at a South African police car during clashes over high tuition fees at Johannesburg's University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

The Nigerian community in South Africa says eight of its members abducted by South Africans in Evander, north-west of Secunda in Mpumalanga province of the country have been released.

Adetola Olubajo, president of the Nigerian union in South Africa, told NAN that the abducted Nigerians were released on Wednesday following pressure by the union on the South African authorities.

Olubajo said Nigerians in Evander had also informed the union about attacks on them in the province.

“According to witnesses and one of the survivors, Evander locals went on rampage in the early hours of April 2 and attacked businesses and property owned by Nigerians,” Olubajo said.

“The mob arrested eight Nigerians and took them to an unknown destination.”

Olubajo said the union had informed the Nigerian mission in South Africa about the incident.

He urged Nigerians in South Africa to remain calm, law abiding and avoid acts capable of putting them in trouble or tarnishing the image of the country.

Christopher Ogugofor, leader of the Nigerian community in Evander, said the Nigerians were abducted from their shops on Tuesday.

“They (South Africans) started attacking and looting our shops on March 29. But on Tuesday, April 2, they took away eight of our members to unknown destination,” he said.

“They were taken to an unknown destination and no ransom was demanded.

“We reported the incident to the Nigerian Union. For now, we have taken protective measures and some of our members are in safe places out of the town.”