XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS IN SOUTH AFRICA: NIGERIANS PROTEST IN ABUJA
There are palpable fears that if the situation is not addressed quickly, it is capable of causing serious diplomatic crisis and tension between the Nigerian Government and her South African counterpart.
Few Days back, Nigerians living in South Africa voiced their concerns over rising violence against Nigerians and other African nationals in the country’s capital, Pretoria, whereby, nigerian-owned homes and businesses were reportedly vandalized and looted in the latest attacks.
Few Days back, Nigerians living in South Africa voiced their concerns over rising violence against Nigerians and other African nationals in the country’s capital, Pretoria, whereby, nigerian-owned homes and businesses were reportedly vandalized and looted in the latest attacks.
The reports came just few weeks after it was reported that Nigerian-owned properties—which some alleged were being used for drug dealing and trafficking—were torched in the Johannesburg suburb of Rosetenville.
In what may be described as retaliatory attacks back home in Nigeria, demonstrators led by some students, took to their protest to the South African Embassy in Abuja to protest anti-immigrant violence and urge South African authorities to take action to protect foreign nationals.
The Nigerian government on its part, also demanded that the South African government put an end to the “xenophobic attacks on Nigerians, other Africans and Pakistanis”.
However, the issue came to a head on Thursday when protesters, led by the members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), took their protests against the attacks to the head office of South African mobile phone giant MTN in Abuja.
The angry protesters were said to have attacked the MTN office, where they allegedly vandalised equipment and other valuables in the process.
An MTN spokesman told Reuters that equipment were vandalized as the irate youths could not be placated.
“They are protesting against the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa. It’s our Regional Head Office in Abuja. That’s where we have our customer care centre”, he said.
“They vandalised equipment, stole customer phones and I-Pads while some customers too were reportedly attacked”.
Reacting to the rare retaliatory attack, a South African government source described the situation, which coincided with the visit by MTN chairman Phuthuma Nhleko to Abuja to see Acting-President Yemi Osinbajo, as serious.
“These reprisal attacks underscore the need for the governments of Nigeria and South Africa to move fast to douse the increasing hostilities between citizens of both countries before there is a worse crisis that could strain diplomatic relations”.
It however need to be stated that an attack on MTN office or equipment in Nigeria does not necessarily solve the situation nor does it help the Nigerians who are victims of xenophobic attacks in South Africa. If anything, it would only disrupt the services the company provides to Nigerians and further drive up the already spiraling cost of making use of the MTN's services, the source stated..
“Also, most of the people who are to blame for the xenophobic attacks are not likely to have shares in MTN nor are they workers of the company hence, an attack on the company would not be retaliatory in the real sense of the word”.
So far, there has been no deaths reported in the attacks whether in Nigeria or South Africa. We hope things remain this way until a productive solution is reached before the situation becomes even more dire.
In what may be described as retaliatory attacks back home in Nigeria, demonstrators led by some students, took to their protest to the South African Embassy in Abuja to protest anti-immigrant violence and urge South African authorities to take action to protect foreign nationals.
The Nigerian government on its part, also demanded that the South African government put an end to the “xenophobic attacks on Nigerians, other Africans and Pakistanis”.
However, the issue came to a head on Thursday when protesters, led by the members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), took their protests against the attacks to the head office of South African mobile phone giant MTN in Abuja.
The angry protesters were said to have attacked the MTN office, where they allegedly vandalised equipment and other valuables in the process.
An MTN spokesman told Reuters that equipment were vandalized as the irate youths could not be placated.
“They are protesting against the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa. It’s our Regional Head Office in Abuja. That’s where we have our customer care centre”, he said.
“They vandalised equipment, stole customer phones and I-Pads while some customers too were reportedly attacked”.
Reacting to the rare retaliatory attack, a South African government source described the situation, which coincided with the visit by MTN chairman Phuthuma Nhleko to Abuja to see Acting-President Yemi Osinbajo, as serious.
“These reprisal attacks underscore the need for the governments of Nigeria and South Africa to move fast to douse the increasing hostilities between citizens of both countries before there is a worse crisis that could strain diplomatic relations”.
It however need to be stated that an attack on MTN office or equipment in Nigeria does not necessarily solve the situation nor does it help the Nigerians who are victims of xenophobic attacks in South Africa. If anything, it would only disrupt the services the company provides to Nigerians and further drive up the already spiraling cost of making use of the MTN's services, the source stated..
“Also, most of the people who are to blame for the xenophobic attacks are not likely to have shares in MTN nor are they workers of the company hence, an attack on the company would not be retaliatory in the real sense of the word”.
So far, there has been no deaths reported in the attacks whether in Nigeria or South Africa. We hope things remain this way until a productive solution is reached before the situation becomes even more dire.
Culled from News Agency reports
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