The Federal Government has condemned another round of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians by a mob in South Africa which reportedly started on Sunday where Nigerians were allegedly attacked and their property looted or burnt.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama made the condemnation on Monday, stressing that the federal government will take definite measures to prevent future attacks on Nigerians living in the former Apartheid enclave.
Onyeama, who expressed government’s dismay about the incidents in his Twitter account -@GeoffreyOnyeama, said “I Received sickening and depressing news of continued burning and looting of Nigerian shops and premises in South Africa by mindless criminals with ineffective police protection. Enough is enough. We will take definitive measures.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reportedly said that the President of the Nigeria Union South Africa (NUSA), Adetola Olubajo, had raised alarm earlier on Monday, September 2, 2019, over attacks by South Africans on foreigners, including Nigerians, and their businesses which were being looted and burnt.
He said mobs launched attacks on foreigners in the Jeppestown area of Johannesburg, South Africa’s biggest city, on Sunday, September 1, leaving three dead. Olubajo said over 50 places of business were destroyed, looted and burnt over the night by the mob who only targeted foreign nationals.
“The means of livelihood of people were looted and destroyed by fire overnight which has left many Nigerians traumatized. “Nigerian-owned businesses were seriously affected. A car sales business owned by a Nigerian were 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 said in a statement.
These attacks have continued despite the diplomatic effort being made by the Nigeria government and the assurances of the |South African Government.
Innocent Odoh, Abuja
