The Nation Newspaper

Tag: South Africa

  • S’Africa rules out redress as govt mulls legal option

    SOUTH Africa has snubbed Nigeria’s quest for compensation for its citizens who incurred losses from xenophobic attacks.

    Nigeria is pressing for full compensation for victims of the unprovoked attacks and wanton killings.

    The Federal Government’s envoy is in Pretoria in a diplomatic move to end the impasse created by the situation.

    But South Africa’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Naledi Pandor, said on Thursday that payment of compensation was not in the country’s law.

    Following persistent attacks over the years, many Nigerians – about 200 – have been killed. Many more have lost properties and goods worth millions of dollars, according to the President of Nigerian Union in South Africa Adeola Olubajo.

    As a result of this, the Federal Government has been pressing for compensation.

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffrey Onyeama reiterated the demand for compensation on Thursday in an interview with reporters at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    He said: Our citizens there have suffered a lot. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that they are compensated and we will take measures necessary and do whatever we have to do to ensure that they are compensated.”

    On Tuesday, Onyeama said:  “Full compensation has to be paid because as we have discovered from previous experience, a lot of these Nigerians loss their property and it is a long drawn out process and very often are not compensated for it. But on this occasion, the Nigerian government is going to fight for full compensation and hold the government of South Africa to count.”

    The South African foreign minister also alleged that Nigerians are involved in drug and human trafficking.

    Pandor spoke while responding to criticisms that South Africa’s security agencies were not doing enough to protect foreigners in the wave of xenophobia rocking the country.

    In an interview with eNCA, a South African outfit, Pandor said South Africans believe many Nigerians are “harming our young people.”

    Asked if the country’s security agencies had helped in protecting foreigners including Nigerians, she responded: “I would appreciate them in helping us as well to address the belief our people have and the reality that there are many persons from Nigeria dealing in drugs in our country.

    “I believe that Nigerian nationals are involved in human trafficking and other abusive practices.

    “These kind of assistance of ensuring that such persons do not come to our country will be of great assistance to our nation.”

    Read Also: South Africa’s Ramaphosa says at least 10 killed in riots

    The xenophobic attacks forced Nigeria to pull out of the ongoing World Economic Forum in South Africa.

    In its initial response to the fresh attacks, the federal government summoned Bobby Monroe, South Africa’s high commissioner to Nigeria.

    The Nigerian government is now considering the option of suing the South Africa government to force her to pay compensation, as shown by the move being made by the federal ministry of justice.

    South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa who addressed the nation yesterday on his attacks, did not mention the concern of Nigerians on the killing of her nationals.

    He merely said at least 10 persons were killed, two of them foreigners, in a wave of riots and attacks.

    In the televised address in Johannesburg, he said: “Over the past few days, our country has been deeply traumatised and troubled by acts of violence and criminality directed against foreign nationals and our own citizens,” Ramaphosa said.

    “People have lost their lives, families have been traumatised … We know that at least 10 people have been killed in the violence. Two of whom were foreign nationals.”

    South African police arrested more than 80 people and confirmed five deaths as riots in Johannesburg and the capital Pretoria intensified on Tuesday, spreading to surrounding townships with roving groups attacking mainly foreign-owned shops.

    “We can’t rule out pure criminality of criminals using a sensitive situation where there are real grievances on issues of unemployment and foreign nationals,” police minister Bheki Cele said.

  • Nigeria considers legal option against South Africa

    THE xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and others in South Africa have festered because of the failure of that country’s government to act as required, Federal Government officials said on Thursday.

    The Federal  government argued that South Africa was obligated under the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights,  the United Nations Charter and other international human rights instruments to protect foreign nationals in its territory.

    It is considering suing the South African Government before the African Court of Human and Peoples Right in Arusha, Tanzania in a bid to compel South Africa to perform its responsibility of protecting Nigerians in the country and seeking compensation for victims of the attacks.

    This position is contained in a memo currently awaiting the final approval of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, a copy of which The Nation sighted in Abuja on Thursday.

    It was learnt that the memo was a culmination of deliberations by senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Justice and other experts on how best Nigeria could address the South African crisis in view of the country’s refusal to yield to past diplomatic overtures.

    Part of the document reads: “Nigeria is entitled to take actions in this xenophobic attacks on her citizens because South Africa has blatantly and with impunity failed to apply the ‘National Treatment Principle’ – treatment equal to that given by South Africa to its own nationals, to foreigners within its territory and consistently encouraged gross violation of the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of Nigerian citizens living in that country.

    “Furthermore, when a state disregards the application of either, the International Minimum Standards or the National Treatment Principle, by resorting to killings, indiscriminately arresting and violating the fundamental rights and freedoms of foreign nationals in its territory, it is a clear violation of Article 55 (c) of the United Nations Charter and other International Human Rights.

    “It must be unequivocally stated that Nigeria owes all its citizens in South Africa the obligation to protect and defend them.

    “This obligation, Nigeria must immediately exercise by calling for a meeting to collate the numbers of Nigerians affected, the nature of injury suffered and the estimate of individual losses.

    “Following repeated incidences of killings, maiming and destruction of properties of Africans especially Nigerians living in South Africa and since it appears diplomacy has failed to prevent the South Africans from committing xenophobic attacks on foreigners, particularly Nigerians; it behooves the Federal Government to exercise its duty under International law to protect the rights of its citizens in diaspora.

    “It is an elementary principle of international law that a state is entitle to protect its subjects, when injured by acts contrary to international law committed by another state, from whom they have been unable to obtain diplomatic action or international judicial proceedings on his behalf, a state is in reality asserting its own rights- its right to ensure in the person of its subjects, respect for the rules of international law.

    “In a South African reported case- Kaunda v. President of the Republic of South Africa, which lends credence to the Nigeria’s position, the Constitutional Court of that country (South Africa) states that:

    ‘There may… be a duty on government, consistent with its obligations under international law to take action to protect one of its citizens against a gross abuse of international human right norms.

    ‘A request to government for assistance in such circumstances where the evidence is clear would be difficult, and in extreme cases, possibly impossible to refuse. It is unlikely that such a request will ever be refused by government, but if it were, the decision will be justiciable and the court will order the government to take appropriate actions.’

    Read Also: Nigeria draws red line with South Africa over killings

    “Thus, even if Nigerian government is refusing to act in this circumstance, Nigeria can be compelled to take actions by the court.

    The decision of the South African Constitutional Court is further corroborated by Article 19 of the Draft Articles on Diplomatic Protection which provides that:

    ‘A state is entitled to exercise diplomatic protection according to the present draft articles, give die consideration to the possibility of exercising diplomatic protection, especially when a significant injury has occurred; take into account, wherever feasible, the views of injured persons with regard to resort to diplomatic protection and the reparation to be sought; and transfer to the injured person any compensation obtained for the injury.’

    A senior official of the Federal Ministry of Justice, confirmed that the ministry was working to ensure the prompt institution of the case in few days from now.

    He said: “We are entitled to sue where diplomacy appear not to be working in this case and the South African authorities seem complicit.

    “Nigeria is a party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, having ratified the charter on June 22, 1983.

    “The country has also ratified the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights on the establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples Rights since  20th May, 2004.

    “So, we can approach the court to seek redress for Nigerians who are victims of this senseless and unprovoked attacks,” the official said.

  • Xenophobia: Fed Govt warns against attacks on foreigners

    THE Federal Government on Thursday warned hoodlums and miscreants who are attacking foreigners and business premises over Xenophobia clashes in South Africa.

    It added that some unscrupulous people were engaging in disinformation to inflame passion by using fake news and videos of non-related attacks.

    The government said hoodlums have hijacked the peaceful protests by some Nigerians to loot shops at Shoprite and other malls in some locations across the country.

    Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed warned those attacking foreigners, including South Africans, to desist or face justice.

    He said: “Of course, a number of other measures are also being considered by the government to keep Nigerians in South Africa safe. But the purpose of this press conference is to reiterate the appeal to Nigerians, who are justifiably angered by the attacks on their compatriots in South Africa, not to resort to self-help by carrying out reprisal attacks against South African businesses in Nigeria; to alert Nigerians to the fact that some unscrupulous people are engaging in disinformation to inflame passion by using fake news and videos of non-related attacks; to very strongly warn the naysayers and hoodlums who might want to capitalize on the widespread disenchantment and anger of Nigerians over the attacks in South Africa to foment mayhem, and to appeal to Nigerians, especially opinion leaders, not to allow raw emotions to guide their response to the attacks.

    “ I will take the issues one by one, starting with the attacks on South African businesses in Nigeria. Reports of these attacks, which have dominated the social and traditional media in the past two days, are quite disturbing and depressing. Obviously, hoodlums have hijacked the peaceful protests by some Nigerians to loot shops at Shoprite and other Malls in some locations across the country.

    “ A Nigerian lady whose shop was looted at the Novare Mall in Lagos said she lost millions of naira to the hoodlums who looted her shop. The offices of the MTN nationwide have either been attacked or threatened. Other South African firms have either shut their doors or are open under heavy security.

    “As we said in our intervention on Tuesday, Nigerians own and run the shops in the various Shoprite malls across the country. Nigerians work there also. MTN is listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the investors in this company are Nigerians. The workers are mostly Nigerians. Same applies to other South African businesses in the country. By attacking them, we are hurting our own people. That is the blunt truth.

    “Some hoodlums have also targeted foreigners under the guise of protesting against the xenophobic attacks in South Africa. This is saddening.

    Read Also: South Africa’s Ramaphosa says at least 10 killed in riots

    “If we are complaining that South Africans are attacking Nigerians in South Africa, how then can we tolerate Nigerians attacking  Nigerians and foreigners right here in Nigeria? What purpose do such attacks serve, other than for Nigerians to lose their investments and jobs?

    “Must we cut our nose to spite our face? It is in this light that I want to assure all Nigerians, and indeed foreigners living in Nigeria, that the Federal Government has put in place adequate security measures to protect the lives and property of all.

    “The security agencies have been put on high alert, and looters will be arrested and made to face justice.”

    Mohammed said it was unfortunate that some Nigerians had been using old video clips to instigate some hoodlums to attack foreigners and South African businesses in the country.

    He asked Nigerians to be circumspect of fake videos which had been designed to inflame passion.

    He said three of such videos on alleged killings of Nigerians in South Africa were fake.

    He advised those behind the videos to  immediately desist from doing so forthwith.

    He added: “ I also want to use this press conference to alert Nigerians to the video clips being circulated on the social media, purportedly showing how Nigerians are being killed in South Africa. Three of such videos come to mind:

    • One video shows a man who has been set ablaze trying to escape, and those circulating the video identified the man as Nigerian. This is not true. The video shows Mozambican Ernesto Alfabeto Nhamuave, a victim of xenophobic violence in South Africa in 2008, and it is not that of a Nigerian being attacked in 2019.
    • Another video shows those said to be Nigerians jumping down from a multi-storey building that was purportedly set on fire by xenophobic attackers in South Africa. This is fake news as the video is that of a Suraj Coaching Centre in Gujarat State, India, that was gutted by fire on May 24, 2019, leaving about 18 people dead.
    • The third video, purportedly showing the bodies of Nigerians who were burnt in xenophobic attacks, is the raw footage of those who were killed in a Tanzanian fuel tanker explosion in Morogoro that left at least 60 dead on Aug. 10 2019.

    “Those who are circulating these videos should immediately desist from doing so. Apart from inflaming passion, the videos are also complicating the efforts of the government to calm frayed nerves at home in the wake of the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

    “Recall, gentlemen, that we alerted Nigerians to the dangers posed by fake news and disinformation when we launched our National Campaign Against Fake News on July 11 2019. That campaign is more urgent now than ever, and I implore the media, in particular, to give it a renewed play. Fake news and disinformation represent a clear and present danger to every society.

    “We want to appeal to our opinion leaders and celebrities to be guarded in their utterances and comments on the xenophobic attacks and  the reactions from Nigerians. Words have meaning, and wrong words are like poisoned darts. In the words of the Buddha, ‘’Better than a thousand hollowed words, is one word that brings peace.’’

    Mohammed assured that the government will protect Nigerians wherever they might be all over the world.

    He said other measures are being considered to tackle xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

    But, he was silent on the contingencies being put in place by the Federal Government.

    He avoided questions from reporters  to avoid, what a source described as “joining the fray.”

  • IGP orders water-tight security in Nigeria

    THE Inspector-General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu, has ordered water-tight security around embassies, foreign missions, foreigners and their businesses within the country.

    Adamu gave this order in a statement by Police Public Relations Officer, DCP Frank Mba yesterday.

    He said: “This order is against the backdrop of the unfortunate attack on Shoprite outlets in Lekki Area of Lagos State on Sept. 3.

    “Some miscreants attacked and looted the malls ostensibly under the pretext of protesting against the incessant xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

    “To this end, all Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police and Commissioners of Police across the Federation have been placed on red alert to ensure no similar violence is replicated within the country,” the IGP said.

    Read Also: IGP orders CP to fish out killers

    Adamu, who condemned the violent attacks on some properties, noted that three police officers were seriously injured, while a police operational vehicle was set ablaze during the attacks.

    He said a total of 125 suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident, while a good number of looted valuables had been recovered by the Police.

    The IGP said he recognised the rights of citizens to air their views on salient national issues as enshrined in the constitution, but noted that these must be done within the confines of the law.

    “Miscreants and criminally-minded people who masquerade as genuine protesters are therefore warned to stay-off the streets of Nigeria.

    “The Force will not hesitate to bring to bear the full weight of the law on any such law breaker.

    “Parents and guardians are therefore enjoined to prevail on their children and wards to desist from acts capable of causing breakdown of law and order in the country,” he said.

    Adamu said the Police had commenced investigations and profiling of the arrested suspects with a view to establishing their connection with the stealing, malicious damage, arson and disturbance of public peace on the day of the incident.

    “The Force is hereby reassuring all law-abiding citizens, embassies, foreign missions, foreigners and their businesses within the country of their security and safety,” he said.

  • SA: nobility died with Mandela?

    THERE is a popular belief about Karma — what you sow, you reap.  By Karma, those who sow evil must reap evil, even if payback time could be a later generation.

    But could Karma also come in advance, punishing the parents in anticipation of their unborn children’s future crime?

    Could the traumatic apartheid system, under White minority rule, have been just but advanced desert for criminal progenies now plaguing South Africa, well beyond the era of apartheid and White supremacy — and with some tacit official support?

    First, what is the difference between the racial violence of apartheid (separation and different development of races) that brought the South Africa of Nelson Mandela to its knees; and the xenophobic violence that criminal-minded South African natives inflict on fellow Blacks, which by the way, Bongani Mkongi, South Africa’s deputy Police minister, insists is no xenophobia, but just speaking “truth”?

    So, if South Africa has somewhat failed to satisfy the yearnings of its post-apartheid natives, the solution is to attack, loot the shops and kill hardworking foreign nationals in that country, even if some of these foreigners are themselves accused of drug pushing and sundry crimes?

    Minister Mkongi’s nativist bluster, in the face of clear evil, is a perfect manifestation of the popular quip: patriotism is the last bastion of the scroundrel!    Though Gen. Bheki Cele, the Police minister, has apologized for Mkongi’s vomit, that such crap could come from such a high official of state means the xenophobia, by the lowlifes, is not entirely an accident.

    Mkongi just told the world that since foreigners dominate South African cities and townships like Hillbrow to the tune of 80 per cent, no one should raise an eye-brow that the overwhelmed 20 per cent natives see looting and arson and murder as their sole salvation.  Good luck to such a criminal country!

    Yet, that violently jars against the spirit of the Madiba, the one and only Nelson Mandela, one of 20th century’s living saints.  Now, did all decorum and decency and nobility die with Mandela — Mandela who after spending 27 years in White gaol, still emerged as one of the noblest and most refined personage in the whole of the globe?

    Is this present redoubt of muggers, looters, arsonists and murderers really Mandela people?  Or Mandela was just a freak, conferring undeserved humanity to vandals, who thoroughly deserved the trauma and horror of apartheid?

    Mandela must be weeping in his grave!

    Still, it’s important to state that these barbarians, and petty, murderous thieves, can’t define South Africa, if Hardball is not to commit the illogic of sweeping profiling.

    Gen. Beki has apologized for Mkogi’s crap.  Julius Malema, the maverick leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, the radical breakaway of hotheads from the ANC, has also condemned this horror.  Let more weighty voices speak up, not the least President Cyril Ramaphosa — and ANC.

    Meanwhile, these scums and petty xenophobes are giving nobody but their country a bad name.  For starters, they portray their country as crawling with idle, lazy and spiteful denizens, looking out for foreigners’ trove to pounce on.

    After the foreigners have been scared to return to their home countries, or have fled elsewhere, the mad dogs will continue pouncing on their own kind.

    That is when this brewing lunacy would fully dawn on those decent South Africans who now, for political expediency, keep mute.

    Meanwhile, puff goes in smoke, the South African tourism market.  Who wants to go to a country of hateful xenophobes?

  • Buhari sends emissary to Ramaphosa

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday condemned the renewed wave of attacks on Nigerians by their South African hosts. He sent an envoy to the former apartheid enclave with a mission to “express Nigeria’s displeasure over the treatment of her citizens”.

    Also in a statement, Nigeria’s High Commission in South Africa described the situation as “anarchy”. The government alleged that Nigerian-owned businesses were targeted in Johannesburg and it called on Nigerians to come forward to report what had happened to them.

    South African President Cyril Ramaphosa also criticised the attacks.

    He said: “I condemn the violence that has been spreading around a number of our provinces in the strongest terms. I’m convening the ministers in the security cluster today (yesterday) to make sure that we keep a close eye on these acts of wanton violence and find ways of stopping them.

    “The people of our country want to live in harmony; whatever concerns or grievances we may have, we need to handle them in a democratic way. There can be no justification for any South African to attack people from other countries.”

    Posting a massage on his official Twitter handle, Ramaphosa said: “We express our deep pain, support, solidarity and love to the families, friends and loved ones of all those who have lost their lives in the last month (Uyinene Mrwetyana, Leighandre Jegels, Nolunde Vunsindo, Meghan Cremer, Jesse Hess to mention but a few)”

  • Nigeria demands compensation as South Africa denies attack is xenophobic

    THE Federal Government on Tuesday demanded an end to the killing of Nigerians in South Africa and called for compensation for the victims

    At a joint news briefing with the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Bobby Moroe, Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama, spoke on the xenophobic attacks.

    The proposal also includes security collaboration between the two countries.

    He said: “We feel that very definitive measures have to be taken to stop once and for all this act of aggression and criminality against Nigerians in South Africa.

    “For us, Nigerian government, we are determined that we should not have any reoccurrence of this going forward. So, we have to put in place mechanism to ensure that this do not occur.

    “We made very concrete proposals to South African government today, and we believe if those measures are implemented, we will have a very good chance of ensuring that this does not reoccur.

    “In the first place, we must address the issue of compensation. There has to be accountability and there has to be responsibility for compensating all those Nigerians that have suffered loss and we are going to absolutely push forward.

    “Secondly, we believe that the two security forces (South Africa and Nigeria), can have an arrangement where there will be cooperation on the ground in South Africa to arrest such events and occurrences and this is obvious something we have to work out details with the South African government and hopefully, see us addressing at the field level the challenges caused by this incessant attacks so we have put that forward to the South Africa government. Very clear proposals and we will be discussing that and hopefully the South African government will support us in that initiative as we believe it will make all the difference.”

    The minister said past efforts made to stem the incessant attacks included a jointly agreed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which the South African government was yet to sign.

    “As you are all aware, there has been another looting and burning of properties belonging to Nigerians in South Africa and of course this is something we have seen in the past. As a result of some of these incidence in the past, I undertook at a time with the former minister of interior a trip to South Africa where we met senior members of the South African government.

    “We proposed then that we should have an early warning mechanism, which essentially would see regular meetings between South African government and the Nigerian High Commission and Consul-General and Nigerian Union in South Africa on the other side meeting regularly, informing each other, anticipating events and essentially been prepared to preempt such attacks as we are witnessing today and taking other measures including compensation and so forth. Essentially haven the two working as a team.

    Read Also: Nigerians protest in South Africa

    “Now unfortunately, the Memorandum of Understand (MoU) that was prepared to capture this has not been signed. The disadvantage with that is that there is no framework now for the relevance parties to meet and address this ongoing situation.”

    Moroe noted that his country cherished the long term relationship it shared with Nigeria, informing that 90 arrests have been made so far across the cities.

    He stressed that the recent attacks was not xenophobic attack but an act of criminality and sporadic attacks and hence, attention should be on the cordial relationship between the two countries rather than the challenges, stressing that the bond is stronger.

    He condemned the attacks on Nigerian businesses; adding that his country has been doing its best to address the ugly situation.

    He commend the minister  for  providing the opportunity to unlock the bottlenecks between the two countries.

    “Every national in South Africa have always been integrated within the society and we have a lot of foreigners who have chosen South Africa as their home. It is therefore very unfortunate that we found ourselves in this situation we found ourselves now.”

    In a statement, the government condemned the spade of violence and rate of criminality, which demonstrate that there are criminals within society that seek to destabilise the country and create an impression that South Africans do not subscribe to the principle of “Obundo”, you are because I am”.

    The South African Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) quoted the envoy as calling for calm in the statement.

    The South Africa  government according to the statement denounced  violence and crime as a way of addressing grievances.

    It stated: “The government calls for calm and restraint in certain parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, as community members raise their concerns and grievances about various issues affecting them. No amount of grievance or unhappiness can justify the looting of shops, destruction of properties and illegal blocking of roads. Such acts constitute a criminal offence and the law enforcement agencies must respond without any fear or favour

    “We are a democratic state that promotes robust dialogue and engagement with the dissatisfied communities. As government, we will not allow anarchy and violence to be the order of the day. We commend the quick response of the South African Police Services (SAPS) which has resulted in the arrest of a number of individuals.

    “With regard to the attacks on trucks, 20 individuals have been arrested in KwaZulu-Natal after responding to incidents along major routes and known hotspots in the province. These arrests relate to public violence and obstruction of traffic, possession of unlicensed firearms, attempted murder and malicious damage to property.

    “In Gauteng following the violence and looting of shops in Ekurhuleni, Tshwane and the Johannesburg CBD, seventy (70) arrests have been made in connection with public violence, malicious damage to property and theft.

    “The police will continue their work to restore order in the affected areas and government urges all the law-abiding citizens to continue to work with the police and isolate the criminals.  Let us remain vigilant against fake news that are being peddled through the social media platforms to fuel tensions within the respective communities. Anyone found to be spreading the fake stories on social media will be dealt with accordingly. We cannot allow those who want to portray our country in a bad light to succeed.

    “The government urges all members of the community to work together with the law enforcement agencies. Community members can report any criminal activities they have witnessed to the police using the 10111 emergency number.”

    In South Africa, the Nigerian Mission attributed the renewed xenophobic attacks on its citizens and the spate of violence to weak judicial system and lack of adequate stringent measures against crimes in South Africa.

    The Nigeria Consul-General in Johannesburg, Godwin Adama, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone chat that lack of arrest, prosecution and trial with stringent punishment against crimes and other offences have contributed to the rising crime wave in South Africa.

    The consul-general was reacting to renewed attacks against foreigners on Aug. 28 and Sept. 1, in Pretoria and Johannesburg, leading to looting and burning of businesses and property belonging foreigners and death of three people.

    Adama called for review of the South African judicial system to promote the fights against crime and all forms of impunity in that country.

    He said: “The judicial system is very lenient with those types of crimes, so if somebody commits crime now, the system will grant him bail immediately.

    “Criminals cease the opportunity of such lenient system to commit crimes; and it is expected that if the government can review its judicial system, it will boost fights against crime.

    “This will help in the future because as it is today, the whole law is lenient and it leads to impunity. This is why the crime rate is difficult to control, even when you kill somebody now, they will grant you bail almost immediately and this is what leads to impunity.”

     

  • Uproar over killing of Nigerians in South Africa

    ANGRY youths in their hundreds on Tuesday protested the continuous killing of Nigerians in xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

    They attacked businesses linked to South Africa, whose citizens have been ceaselessly killing Nigerians and destroying their businesses.

    There was an attack on Shoprite outlets at Circle Mall in Lekki, Lagos, which turned bloody, MTN facilities at Apapa also in Lagos and in Uyo, the  Akwa Ibom State capital.

    The Uyo office of MTN had its glass doors and windows smashed by the angry youths. Attempts by protesters to torch some other MTN offices in Lagos were foiled by security operatives.

    Some placard-carrying youths were at the Ikeja Shopping Mall to protest the killings. They chanted revolutionary songs and disrupted businesses at the Ikeja Mall, which houses the Shoprite outlet.

    The Ibadan Mall where Shoprite is located was picketed by youths.

    In Surulere, Lagos, another set of youths attacked and looted PEP shops at Eric Moore before the police came to disperse them. PEP is South African largest single brand retailer.

    At the Lekki Mall, two people were feared dead in the confrontation between the police and the youths while no fewer than five policemen were taken away injured.

    More than 60 people were arrested.

    A police van was burnt by the rampaging youths who carted away goods including electronics and other household items from the stores after driving out workers.

    The attack which started in the afternoon was still ongoing as at 9pm with the police struggling to contain the protesters. The police shot sporadically when the youths refused to heed the advice to halt their activities, leading to stray bullets hitting the people that died. But there was no official confirmation of deaths as at 10pm last night.

    Both the federal and the Lagos State governments called for restraint.

    The Federal Government condemned the killing of Nigerians, which Vice President Yemi Osinbajo described as “unacceptable and unconscionable”.

    President Muhammadu Buhari dispatched a delegation to South Africa to meet tomorrow with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

    In Abuja, Minister of Foreign Affairs Geoffery Onyema summoned the South African High Commissioner and requested for a halt to the killing of Nigerians and the attack on their businesses. He also called for compensation for the victims.

    The attacks on businesses linked to South Africa in the country followed consistent killings of Nigerians in South Africa and the looting and destruction of their shops.

    Businesses at Shoprite outlet in Osapa London, Sangotedo on Lekki-Epe Expressway, were said to have been grounded as protesters specifically ordered all customers inside the outlets to leave.

    The Lekki protest which commenced around 3:30pm turned violent after stray bullets killed two young men. Policemen were drafted to disperse the youths, who had forced their way into the mall.

    According to sources, the protests started when a group of angry women, said to be relatives of those who fell victims to the attacks in South Africa, entered the Lekki Shoprite started and upturning shelves with groceries and toiletries.

    The police shot sporadically following attempts by the mob to set Shoprite ablaze.

    Read Also: Foreign minister’s tweet on Xenophobia sparks row

    It was learnt that three youths died. But there was no confirmation from the police.

    In no time, more youths converged and ordered everyone out of the outlet gathering used tyres in preparation to setting the place on fire.

    According to a resident, Semiu Ibrahim, more than 17 police vehicles were deployed as they released teargas canisters.

    He said a young man killed was an observer.

    “Those protesting wanted to burn down the place and the police started shooting. They threw teargas as well. The whole thing started around 3:30pm. They came and asked people in the mall to leave. They wanted to burn the place.

    “The police pleaded with them not to do it but they were not listening and the police started shooting. Bullet hit and killed a young man who was observing what was happening.

    “There were about 20 police vehicles there. The protesters were more than 100”, he said.

    Lagos Police spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said they had to send reinforcement to the place because the mob was out to burn the facility which “doesn’t even belong to South Africans in the first place.”

    He said: “We are still battling with this issue. I do not know for now if anyone was killed. But I can tell you that those youths were not protesters. They were out to burn down the shopping mall and cause problem.

    “The police had to quickly move in to prevent that. They are riotous and we had to send in reinforcement. We are still here,” he said last night.

    Some youths staged a peaceful protest at the Dugbe, Ibadan branches of Shoprite and StanbicIBTC Bank.

    The two are among the popular companies owned by South Africans in Nigeria.

    An eye witness told The Nation that the youths, numbering about 50, stormed Shoprite around 5:00 pm to register their displeasure over the killings. He said they did not disturb operation of the company though they caused a stir in the shopping mall which houses many other retailers and the historic Cocoa House.

    On sighting the protesters, the management of Odu’a Investments Limited, owners of the property, alerted the police which quickly drafted its men to the premises.

    The eye witness added that the youths moved over to the nearby branch of StanbicIBTC Bank after only 15 minutes before moving over to the bank.

    In Uyo, Scores of youths launched an attack on the MTN office located along Ikot Ekpene road and a few metres from the town campus of the University of Uyo.

    Earlier on Tuesday, some private radio stations aired phone-in programmes on the killings and attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

    Many callers expressed their anger over the unfortunate plight of Nigerians and called on the government to take drastic actions to stop the onslaught.

    The Nation gathered that the attack on the MTN building started at about 2.30pm with the rampaging youths destroying glass doors and windows of the facility.

    A sales lady at the shop who narrowly escaped the attack told our correspondent that valuable items were destroyed while phones and cash were stolen by the attackers

    She said: “They ordered people out, destroyed computers, and took away cash and customers’ phones. We ran away through the backdoor to safety.”

    There was no casualty.

    It is not clear if the attack was an isolated incident.

    The police spokesperson in the state, Odiko MacDon, did not immediately respond to calls and text messages sent to him.

    However, an eyewitness who pleaded not to be named said: “The attack on the MTN shop in Uyo is most unfortunate because neither the building nor the computers belong to the South African people or government,” a citizen who did not want his name in print, said, adding, even the people working there are our brothers and sisters.”

  • Nigerians rise against attacks on compatriots

    A to Z of some killings in 2019

     

    • February 3: An unnamed Nigerian in his mid-20s was killed by the police
    • March 15: Another unidentified Nigerian, 44, was killed in a drive-by shooting in the in Troye Street, Sunnyside, Pretoria.
    • April 4: Clement Nwaogu in April, a father of two, was burnt to death
    • April 5: Goziem Akpenyi was stabbed to death at Bellville Stadium parking lot in Cape Town at about 1 pm. He was stabbed by three unidentified black South African men after an argument.
    • April 6: Bonny Iwuoha, 48, from Ihitte/Uboma in Imo State, was stabbed to death at about 11:45 pm in Johannesburg. He was trailed from 152 Hay Street Turffontein, and killed him in front of his gate at Turf Road, Turffontein
    • April 9: ThankGod Okoro was also reportedly shot dead in Hamburg, Florida West Rand, Johannesburg by the South African Police Flying Squad
    • April 27: Samuel Nkennaya, 34, was killed because a mob claimed he kidnapped a six-year-old girl. He was mobbed with his friend Chinonso Nwudo outside a supermarket. Nwudo was left in a critical condition
    • April 28: Ebuka Udugbo was allegedly killed by South African Police. The President of the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA), Ben Okoli, said, “The police took his car keys, left the car by the way and drove with him back to his house in the police car along with the girlfriend. He was severely beaten by the cops in his house and he fainted. At this point, the landlord’s son feared and told the police to take him to the hospital.” He was taken to the station instead where the beating continued and he died in the station. The police claimed he committed suicide
    • May 3: Okechukwu Henry, an indigene of Imo State and used car dealer, was stabbed to death by men who posed as customers in Mpumalanga.
    • June 13: Ndubisi-Chukwu, the Deputy Director-General of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), was killed in her hotel room
    • June 14: Maxwell Ikechukwu Okoye died in South Africa after the police invaded his house in Ladysmith in Kwazulu Natal Province. The police claimed he was foaming when they broke into his house. The Consul General of the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg, Mr Godwin Adama, said Okoye’s home was turned upside down
    • July 6: Mr Ozumba Tochukwu-Lawrence was murdered by an unknown gunman at 10 Koppe, Middleburg, Mpumalanga, South Africa
    • July 12: Mr. Martin Ebuzoeme was killed by unknown assailant. He was killed in Yeoville, Johannesburg around 7:30pm. The killing came barely 24 hours after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa visited Nigeria
    • July 20: Chinonso Obiaju, 17, a Nigerian still in high school was shot dead in Johannesburg around 630pm
    • August: A 46-year-old Nigerian businessman, Pius Ezekwem, was killed in South Africa’s eastern cape province allegedly by a group of eight policemen

     

    *Note: In all, over 118 Nigerians are believed to have been killed between 2016 and 2018 in violent manners. Businesses and properties have either been burnt or looted.

     

    NIGERIANS almost spoke in one voice on Tuesday. All thanks to the fresh attacks on their compatriots in South Africa. Social media platforms, such as twitter, facebook and Instagram, were literally shut down by celebrities and everyday Nigerians condemning the arsons in South Africa.

    Political leaders also called for an end to the attacks.

    From Senate President Ahmad Lawan to Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, the verdict was clear: enough is enough.

    Lawan, in a statement on Tuesday, said Nigeria has had enough of its citizens being targets of these attacks and will no longer tolerate hate crimes in any form against its citizens who are doing legitimate businesses in South Africa.

    Lawan said: “Xenophobic violence is most condemnable anywhere; more so in South Africa, a country whose citizens benefitted from the unwavering support and solidarity of Africans and freedom lovers across the world in their historic struggle against apartheid.

    “More disturbing, however, is that these attacks indicate the neglect of educating the younger generations on the sacrifices that Africans proudly made towards expunging the scourges of colonialism and apartheid from their continent.

    “The enormous contributions of Nigeria to this historic struggle is underscored by its recognition as a frontline state in the prolonged confrontation against the powerful racist regime that had held generations of Southern Africans in bondage and subhuman conditions.

    “This recognition is in spite of the fact that Nigeria does not share geographical borders with the subregion and was far removed from the direct consequences of apartheid.

    Read Also: South Africa: What you need to know about ‘xenophobic attacks’

    “The liberation of South Africa was rightly celebrated across the continent and the Black world as the final emancipation of Africans from colonialism and apartheid.

    “It is, therefore, an unacceptable irony that a section of South Africans would so soon after now, choose other Africans in their country as the targets of mindless violent attacks over frustrations for which the innocent victims have no control.”

    Gbajabiamila said the House may reconvene to discuss the matter after a meeting of the leadership of the House. He said on his twitter handle said: “Will be cutting short my trip to Tanzania for the 50th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference CPA Secretariat and will be leaving today, for the leadership of the House to consider cutting short the recess and reconvening for one day to address the killings of Nigerians in South Africa.

    To his colleague, Chukwuma  Umeoji, the Federal Government should shut down all South African businesses in the country.

    Umeoji, who represents Aguata Federal Constituency of Anambra on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), spoke in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Nollywood actress Funke Akindele wrote: “This is so sad. Why? Must violence be the solution to every problem? I woke up to horrific pictures and videos of our countrymen being attacked and killed. This has to stop o!!!

    “We all are out there hustling to put food on our tables! Why the killings. I appeal to the Nigerian government to see to the immediate end of this. All lives matter! #saynotoxenophobia .”

    EbonyLife Tv CEO Mo Abudu wrote: “The xenophobic attacks happening in South Africa right now is complete and misplaced anger. We owe it to ourselves as Africans to unite. It’s the only way forward.”

    On-air-personality Toke Makinwa described the attacks as a huge blow on Africa as a continent. She called for peace and urged all concerned to ensure the safety of lives and properties.

     

  • Xenophobia: Nigerians retaliate attacks on countrymen in South Africa

    South African businesses in Nigeria on Tuesday bore the brunt of the ongoing Xenophobic attacks of Nigerians in South African.

    Angry youths in their hundreds in major cities such as Lagos, Uyo and Ibadan stormed Shoprite and MTN offices disrupting their activities and destroying facilities.

    In Uyo, an MTN office had its glass doors and windows shattered, while attempts by protesters to burn down one of their offices in Lagos was foiled by security operatives.

    Footage of South Africans killing blacks in most gruesome manners and burning their businesses had surfaced online provoking other Africans across the world.

    The attack on South African businesses in the country followed tales by Nigerians in that country whose legitimate businesses were razed and their homes vandalised by the savages claiming to be after blacks committing crimes in their country.

    The worrisome video of a young man set ablaze, being hit with planks and sniffed by a dog in the full glare of Police officers who could not hide their pleasure and support of the cruelty, as well as the justification of the barbaric acts by Deputy Police Chief Bongani Mkongi on grounds that foreigners hsve dominated the country further fuelled the angst of Nigerians who vowed to vent their anger on South African businesses.

    In no time, groups converged at different locations and moved to MTN, Shoprite and other business interests of South Africa in Nigeria.

    Businesses at Shoprite outlets in Osapa London, Lekki, Sangotedo in Ajah, Alausa, Ikeja were said to have been grounded as protesters specifically ordered all customers inside the outlets to vacate.

    The Lekki agitation which commenced around 3:30pm was said to have turned violent after stray bullet from the police killed a young observer while trying to disperse the crowd.

    The police were said to have shot sporadically following attempts by the mob to set Shoprite ablaze

    According to sources, the protests started when a group of angry women, said to have relatives who fell victims to the attacks in South Africa entered the Lekki Shoprite and  started calling groceries, toiletries.

    In no time, youths converged and ordered everyone out of the outlet gathering tyres to raze the place.

    According to a resident Semiu Ibrahim, over 17 police vehicles were seen at the place as the security agents shot sporadically and released teargas canisters.

    He said the young man killed was an observer, adding that the killing occurred around 5pm.

    Read Also: Xenophobia: NANS shuts MTN Kaduna, Benue offices

    “Those protesting wanted to burn down the place and the police started shooting. They threw teargas as well. The whole thing started around 3:30pm. They came and asked people in the mall to leave. They wanted to burn the place.

    “The police pleaded with them not to do it but they were not listening and the police started shooting. Bullet hit and killed a young man who was observing what was happening.

    “There were about 20 police vehicles there. The protesters were more than 100,” he said.

    But the police denied knowledge of death at the Lekki mall, insisting that the youths were riotous.

    Spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said they had to send reinforcement to the place because the mob was out to burn the facility which “doesn’t even belong to South Africans in the first place.”

    He said: “We are still battling with this issue. I do not know for now if anyone was killed. But I can tell that those youths were not protesters. They were out to burn down the shopping mall and cause problem.

    “The police had to quickly move in to prevent that. They are riotous and we had to send in reinforcement. We are still here.”

    Osinbajo, Ramaphosa condemn attacks

    Meanwhile, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa also took to social media to condemn the cruel attacks in South Africa.

    According to Osinbajo, the attacks on Nigerians and their businesses in South Africa were said and very unfortunate, recalling the country’s huge investment to rescue that nation during its years of apartheid.

    He said: “The recent attacks in South Africa are condemnable. It is sad and very unfortunate that the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians living in South Africa, are once again being destroyed with such wantonness carelessness and recklessness.

    Nigeria and Nigerians invested a great deal in the pulling down of apartheid.

    “These acts of bigotry are entirely contrary to the very ideals that all the great South African leaders including the present President fought for, and for which many gave their lives.

    “Mr. President (Muhammadu Buhari) has already spoken about this. We will take this up with the authorities in South Africa to ensure that this sort of thing does not repeat itself. It is absolutely unacceptable.

    “We will take all actions necessary for the protection of our citizens everywhere in the world. We are currently in consultation with the South African government on the urgent need to put in place measures to end these acts of violence against our people.”

    Condemning the attacks on his official Twitter handle, Ramaphosa said he was calling for a meeting with his security ministers to ensure they closely monitored “these acts of wanton violence.

    He said: “We express our deep pain, support, solidarity and love to the families, friends and loved ones of all those who have lost their lives in the last month (Uyinene Mrwetyana, Leighandre Jegels, Nolunde Vunsindo, Meghan Cremer, Jesse Hess to mention but a few).

    “I condemn the violence that has been spreading around a number of provinces in the strongest terms. I am convening the Ministers in the security cluster today to make sure we keep a close eye on these acts of wanton violence and find ways of stopping them.

    “The people of our country want to live in harmony; whatever concerns or grievances we may have, we need to handle them in a democratic way. There can be no justification for any South African to attack people from other countries.”