No Nigerian Directly Killed By Xenophobic Protesters In S'Africa - Foreign Affairs Ministry
Despite the hoopla over xenophobic attacks in South Africa, the Nigerian Foreign Affairs Ministry on Wednesday disclosed that no Nigerian has been killed directly by the ongoing Afrophobia or Xenophobic protesters in South Africa.
…further attacks will attract drastic sanctions, FG threatensDespite the hooplah over xenophobic attacks inSouth Africa, the Nigerian Foreign Affairs Ministry on Wednesday disclosed that no Nigerian has been killed directly by the ongoing Afrophobia orXenophobic protesters in South Africa. According to thezreports four Nigerians inSouth Africa had been killed in recent months, but the Ministry has insisted that none of the fatalities was directly connected to theanti-foreigner protests. Speaking on Wednesday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102. 5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, disclosed that investigations by the Nigerian High Commission showed that the recent deaths occurred under different circumstances and should not be directly attributed to the protesters. His words, “It’s good to put on record that no Nigerian has been killed by the protesters. We witness unpleasant, very disturbing videos whereby fellow Africans have been killed by mob action in South Africa, but no Nigerian has been killed by the protesting South Africans. However, we witnessed the death of four Nigerians,” he clarified. He said that three of the deaths were connected to the South African police, while another Nigerian was allegedly killed by criminal elements. “Two were killed by South African police during interrogation, because they carried out very gruesome interrogation techniques that led to the death of two Nigerians while in police custody. “One was seriously brutalised, released from police detention, but later died in a hospital. Then, I think the latest one is a Nigerian, fondly called Bijo, that was killed in front of a shop. ”While stressing that the deaths were tragic and unacceptable, the Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman maintained that they were distinct from the ongoing anti-foreigner demonstrations. “But those deaths, were not attributed to the protests; they were carried out, one by an unknown criminal gang, and the three others had police connections that led to their death,” he added. Should any form of attacks persist against Nigerians in South Africa, the Ministry spokesman however, warned that Nigeria’s patience should not be mistaken for weakness, stressing that stronger measures remain under consideration. “At least we’ve put the South African government on notice that if this trend continues, definitely Nigeria will do something more drastic. “2While the government is not prepared to disclose its next steps, Nigerians would be satisfied with its eventual response if diplomatic efforts fail. “There are concerns that we have not done enough, but that is not true. It is a matter of strategy. We are approaching them, engaging them at the highest level. And if we are not satisfied with the reaction from the South African government, Nigerians will see what we are going to do as a people that they will be proud of. “And for the measures that we are going to activate, we have them on our chest. We can’t disclose that now, but we rest assured that the government is working on something very serious”, he said. Please follow and like us: