Nigerians resident in South Africa have
been directed by the Federal Government
to remain indoors up until the ongoing
xenophobic attacks in the country are put
under control.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aminu
Wali, disclosed this to State House
correspondents at the end of a meeting
he attended at the Presidential Villa,
Abuja.
He said the directive was communicated
to them by Nigeria’s mission in Pretoria.
The minister said, “With the discussions
I have been having with Nigeria’s Head of
Mission in Pretoria, no Nigerian has so
far been affected.
“They informed me that they have called
members of the Nigerian community and
addressed them and told them to close
their shops, stay at home and keep out
of trouble and obey the laws of South
Africa.
“They have also confirmed that the South
African authorities have moved in to take
actions that would forestall any further
disturbance in that country.”
Wali however said the government would
not hesitate to evacuate Nigerians from
the country if the situation worsened.
He said, “If it (the situation) gets worse,
it is the duty of our country to make sure
our people are brought back and we are
taking that duty seriously. We are not
prepared to allow any of our nationals to
be subjected to such inhuman treatment.
“We are not being reactionary because
this is happening to all foreigners, not
Nigerians alone. We are monitoring the
situation and will now take action
according to the situation that develops.”
On the investigation ordered by the
President on the recent diplomatic row
between Nigeria and Morocco over the
reported telephone conversation
between Jonathan and King Mohammed
VI of Morocco, Wali simply said, “We are
still at it.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs later
issued a statement in which it called on
the South Africa government to stop the
attacks and put in place measures to
“prevent a reoccurrence. “Condemning
the attacks which began two weeks ago,
it said Nigeria abhorred violence and also
“stands firm in its conviction that no
cause could justify taking innocent
souls.”
The statement read in part, “The people
and government of Nigeria stand in
solidarity with the rest of the world to
condemn these unprovoked attacks on
fellow Africans who have left their
countries to seek greener pastures and
better livelihood for themselves.
“The government of Nigeria would like to
use this medium to reiterate its
abhorrence of violence and … therefore
calls on the government of South Africa
to live up to its responsibilities and take
all necessary steps to stop the ongoing
xenophobic attacks.
“It is gratifying to note, however, that the
a South African President(Jacob Zuma)
has condemned the attack. In addition,
the city of Durban has also organised
rallies against xenophobia.”
Also in Abuja, the House of
Representatives asked the government
to recall Nigeria’s Ambassador for
“consultations “over the widespread
attacks and killing of non-South African
blacks.
A motion debated by the members of the
House in Abuja, highlighted the plight of
African migrants in South Africa, whom
they said were being “slaughtered like
animals” by black South Africans.
The motion stressed that Nigerians were
among the victims.
The House specifically requested South
African President, Jacob Zuma, to
immediately investigate the attacks and
punish those responsible.
The motion was sponsored by the
Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora
Affairs, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
“Nigeria frowns on the spate of killings of
Nigerians in South Africa and requests
President Zuma to investigate the cases
and bring the perpetrators to justice”, the
motion stated.
Dabiri-Erewa noted that though Nigerians
had suffered xenophobic attacks in the
past in South Africa, the latest cases
were ignited by comments credited to the
Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini, who had
reportedly asked migrant Africans to
return to their countries of origin.
The motion read further, “The House
notes sadly that the recent attacks which
have left many dead, businesses and
shops vandalised, many beaten up
mercilessly, were incited by a statement
allegedly made by South African Zulu
King, Goodwill Zwelithini, who told
African migrants to go home as they are
no longer welcomed in South Africa.
“Son of President Zuma, Edward,
allegedly echoed the same statement.
This ignited a strong debate, and worse
still, immediate backlash of violent
reactions among the Zulus in Kwazulu,
who unleashed terror on foreign
immigrants, including Nigerians in Jo-
bourg, Durban and Pretoria.
“They steal, break into their homes,
businesses, take their properties, killing
them.
“At least five have been killed in Durban,
hundreds stranded and unable to return
home.”
Many members, who contributed to the
debate, expressed sadness over the turn
of events in South Africa.
They recalled with pain, the sacrifices
Nigeria made to free South Africa from
the clutches of apartheid.
“What is happening in South Africa is a
demonstration of the shortness of their
memory,” a member from Enugu State,
Tobi Okechukwu, said.
Another lawmaker, Abubakar Momoh,
advised South Africans to turn their anger
against those who oppressed them in the
apartheid era and not fellow Africans,
who gave so much to secure their
freedom.
The motion was passed in a unanimous
voice vote at Thursday’s session, which
was presided over by the Speaker,
Aminu Tambuwal.
A Nigerian based in South Africa on
Thursday told The PUNCH that the South
African Government was secretly
promoting the attacks on black Africans
in their country.
“It’s horrendous. The government is
secretly gingering them. The
government wants all illegal immigrants
to be driven away but it went out of
proportion. But our people are prepared.
We are not running away.”
