An irate group of protesters has besieged the Shoprite outlet at Circle Mall, Jakande, Lekki, Lagos in retaliation to the xenophobic attacks launched against Nigerians and Nigerian businesses in South Africa.
The protesters practically disrupted the regular flow of business, leading to the shutdown of the store, a video posted on Twitter by @TheViralTrends shows. There are signs of heavy smoke sprouting from possible burning of tires within the vicinity of the Mall.
Earlier in the day, a lady with the Twitter handle @MegRicketts staged a one-man protest at the Shoprite outlet on Adeniran Ogunsanya, in Surulere, Lagos, calling for an end to the killing of Nigerians.
Also at the Ikeja City Mall, several youths with placards expressing their grievances also marched to protest.
But in the midst of the online and offline agitation, calls have come from different quarters for Nigerians to avoid directing their anger and dissatisfaction to the wrong targets.
Akin Alabi, Oyo lawmaker and NairaBet chief tweeted “A Nigerian takes a franchise of a South African business. He employs Nigerians. He pays taxes. He feeds his family,but you go burn it down because you want to retaliate? That is not how to retaliate. You are not punishing South Africa that way. You are punishing fellow Nigerians.”
Temitayo Ayetoto
