…says, this is worst attack in history
…3 dead, 40 bullets shot in one hr
By Joke Adeniyi-Jackson
A Nigerian resident, simply identified as Lanre in Johannesburg, capital of South Africa has described the latest xenophobic attack as the worst in history.
In a whatsapp voice note, he narrated the harrowing experience of migrants in the attack which has left many dead and injured in the host country.
According to him, there was upsurge in violence in his neighbourhood on Wednesday with several bullets shot within one hour.
“This is the worst attack. The shooting is much in my neighbourhood. Over 40 bullets were shot between 8am and 9am in which two South Africans and one Nigerian were killed and another Nigerian injured by bullet which penetrated his arm.
“The attack is everywhere. They (South Africans) have started again today (Wednesday) and vowed to continue tomorrow. The rioters are very stubborn,” he added.
He further said that foreigners are trapped indoors and monitoring situation on news media so as not to be caught in the violence.
“We are trapped indoors and monitoring situation on television because we don’t want to die. We have also been praying.”
As a form of self-defence, he said Nigerians have also started taking up arms against the South Africans in a reprisal attack.
He blamed the South African government for the situation, saying it has not risen to the occasion to stem the tide of raging violence across the country.
“The South African government isn’t responsive. Even the police here are nonchalant and insensitive to the plight of foreigners. All they do is hunt for immigrants without resident permit.”
Similarly, a video that he posted also showed the magnitude of violence in the ongoing attack on non- South Africans.
In the video, there was chaos as with many people seen scampering for safety in different directions.
Some people were hit by bullets as cacophony of gunshots rented the air at a location that could not be ascertained at the time of filing this report.
It would be recalled that in the past few days rioters have caused chaos in parts of South Africa, killing foreigners, torching vehicles and looting shops, many of which are owned by immigrants.
Ilorin Shoprite shut, policemen keep vigil
By Matthew Denis
The Ilorin Shoprite was on Tuesday shut following the several xenophobic attacks and killings of Nigerians in South Africa.
When our reporter visited the shopping mall around 4:06pm, the main entrance of the facility was under lock and key.
Some posters were pasted on the entrance door with some inscriptions such as ‘Shoprite does not support Xenophobic anywhere in the world, ‘we’re peaceful, we kick against attacks on people’, among others.
Meanwhile, the Kwara State Police Command has deployed its personnel to secure the facility and also prevent a reprisal attack on presumed businesses owned by South Africans. Two police hilux vans were stationed to avert chaos in the premises.
One of the staff of the mall who spoke to this medium under anonymity said, “We have closed down to play safe due to happenings in South Africa.”
The source however equally blamed the Federal Government for not providing enabling environment for business activities to thrive in the country.
“If our government has provided good infrastructural network, many Nigerians will not be eager to travel out to invest or seek greener pastures.”
This medium noticed that other business activities within the premises of the mall were opened such as mini soc, daviva, KFC, domino’s pizza etc.
No room for reprisal attack in Kwara — CP
The Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has vowed to prevent reprisal attack on South African companies in Kwara, following xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and foreigners in South Africa.
Egbetokun said this, yesterday, at a news conference at the state police headquarters, Ilorin.
He said his officers and men had been stationed to monitor hot spots to prevent unnecessary mob and destruction by the masses.
“We have our men on ground and ready to prevent retaliation or destruction of any kind in Kwara. We want peace.
“There have been reports from some parts of the country on plan to retaliate by some sections of the public. We need to be on alert and prevent such thing for now,” Egbetokun said.
The police boss urged police officers to shun corruption and be committed to selfless service adding that he would not condone indiscipline of any kind and unprofessional conduct by his men.
“Officers who engage in extortion and other negative behavior, under my command, will not be spared.” He also said 17 police officers from the command were in detention, going through orderly room trial for conducting themselves discreditably.
The CP honoured 37 officers with awards for their commitment and dedication to duty, at the occasion. He described the officers as outstanding and good ambassadors of Nigeria, portraying the good image of Nigerian Police Force.
Egbetokun assured that outstanding performance by officers would always attract commendation.
MTN closes outlets nationwide
Following attacks on its facilities in Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan and Uyo, the MTN Nigeria has announced a closure of all its service outlets and offices till further notice.
In a statement released yesterday, the telecommunications company said, “MTN Nigeria Communications PLC confirms that over the last day, our facilities, customers and some of our stakeholders have been the subject of attacks in retaliation for the ongoing xenophobic situation in South Africa,” the statement read.
“We have confirmed reports of attacks in Lagos, Ibadan and Uyo. While we remain committed to providing uninterrupted services, the safety and security of our customers, staff and partners is our primary concern.
“All MTN stores and service centres will there be closed as a precaution until further notice.
“MTN condemns any acts of violence, prejudice and xenophobia and remains absolutely committed to ensuring a peaceful, harmonious and respectful relationship with all communities in Nigeria and across Africa.”
Reports about attacks on foreigners especially Nigerians living in South Africa had gone v viral on Monday.
Bobby Moore, the South African high commissioner to Nigeria, had been summoned to explain the situation.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday, Monroe had denied the occurrence of xenophobic attacks.
Instead, he said the attacks were random acts of violence.
Other businesses originating from South Africa including Shoprite, a retail store, were also affected.
Angry mob sets MTN office on fire in Ibadan
An office of telecommunication giant, MTN, has been set on fire in the Bodija area of Ibadan, Oyo state capital.
Online medium, The Cable, gathered that the office had earlier been shut over widespread attacks on South African companies in the country.
Protesters had attempted to vandalise the office during the day but security operatives resisted the attack.
However, some individuals reportedly regrouped at night and set the office on fire.
Firefighters got to the scene after the havoc had already been done. However, they tried in preventing the inferno from spreading to other buildings.
The violence against foreign nationals, including Nigerians, in South Africa had sparked a nationwide outrage.
In Lagos, protesters targeted Shoprite, MTN, and other South Africa-owned businesses. Similar attacks were also recorded in Akwa Ibom state.
Earlier on Thursday, the telecommunications company issued a statement condemning xenophobic attacks.
“MTN Nigeria strongly condemns hate, prejudice and xenophobia and reiterate our unequivocal condemnation of all violence,” the statement read.
“We seek to connect people, bring people together and provide a platform for everyone’s voice to be heard. We are against all forms of bigotry and discrimination; they should have no place in society.
“Everyone has the right to a world where their rights and freedoms are respected — the right to live and earn a living, freely, safely and protected by the law.”
Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, had also discouraged Nigerians from reprisal attacks, saying most South African businesses in the country are being run by Nigerians.
…mob lights bonfires at Shoprite outlet
The MTN office located in Karu, a suburb of Abuja, has been vandalised by some Nigerians protesting against the xenophobic attacks on fellow citizens in South Africa.
There was also pandemonium at Shoprite, Lugbe, along airport road, Abuja, on Wednesday as police fired teargas canisters to stop a mob from setting the shopping mall on fire.
The protesters, who were on the verge of setting the building ablaze, were stopped by anti-riot policemen.
They, however, set bonfires on the expressway, around the Shoprite outlet, and insisted on not leaving the area until they accomplished their mission. More policemen have been deployed in the area to restore law and order.
A traffic congestion has built up on the busy road as hundreds of commuters are caught in the fracas.
There have been reprisal attacks targeting South African businesses in the country since the latest round of assaults on Nigerian citizens in South Africa.
On Tuesday, violence broke out at the Shoprite outlet in Lekki, resulting in the death of one protester.
The MTN office in Bodija, Ibadan was set on fire in the string of protests against targeting South African businesses.
The police said they have reinforced security around some South African business interests across the country to forestall attacks.
…Lekki mall shop owners lament losses after reprisal looting
Shop owners at the Shoprite outlet at Jakande, Lekki in Lagos, are counting their losses after an angry mob stormed the facility and looted several times.
During a visit on Wednesday, online medium, SaharaReporters came across embittered shop owners, who claimed to have lost their entire wares as a result of the invasion of the mall by the irate mob.
One trader, who pleaded anonymity, said, “They should please help us, let the management verify our identities. I am very bitter -they looted everything and not one thing is remaining in my shop.
“They assured us that nothing will happen, this morning I went there and everything in my shop is gone.”
A salesgirl with a popular restaurant identified as Beauty, said, “They sent a text message for us to come but why are they not letting us in. This is really terrible because our businesses have been affected.”
Disenchanted Nigerians took to the streets on Tuesday and Wednesday to protest and retaliate xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa by destroying businesses with connection to South Africans.
On Tuesday, one person was shot dead by the police in the ensuing chaos that greeted the Shoprite outlet in Jakande.
Nigeria recalls ambassador, boycotts WEF
Nigeria has recalled its high commissioner to South Africa, Kabiru Bala and has also pulled out of the ongoing World Economic Forum in Cape Town, South Africa, over fresh xenophobic attacks, according to a presidential source.
The source said the decisions were taken at a meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, at the presidential villa in Abuja, on Tuesday.
Osinbajo was to represent Nigeria at the three-day forum ending on Friday.
In its initial response to the fresh attacks, the Federal Government had summoned South Africa’s high commissioner to Nigeria, Bobby Monroe.
Buhari also dispatched a special envoy to convey to President Cyril Ramaphosa, his concerns on the attacks.
Nigeria has also demanded full compensation for its citizens involved in the latest attacks.
“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,” Onyeama had told Monroe at a joint news briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.
Online medium, The Cable had reported that Buhari was contemplating turning down the invitation of his South African counterpart over the violence against Nigerians in South Africa.
Ramaphosa had invited the Nigerian leader to his country on October 3 for discussions on strengthening the unity between both countries.
When both men met on the sidelines of the seventh Tokyo International Conference for Africa Development (TICAD7) in Yokohama, Japan, last week, they pledged commitment to the meeting which is now less likely to hold.
S’ African businesses in Nigeria should be closed – Orji Kalu
Former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, has said South African businesses in the country should be shut down if their home government does not stop the killing of Nigerians.
In the recent rounds of xenophobic attacks, shops and property belonging to Nigerians were looted and destroyed by some hoodlums in South Africa.
The South African police have been ineffective in protecting Nigerians and their businesses in the country.
In a statement on Tuesday, Kalu described the killing of Nigerians in South Africa as “ill-conceived, disheartening and wicked”.
The lawmaker asked the federal government to apply stiffer measures to stop the killing of citizens in South Africa.
“If the South African government does not do more to protect the lives of Nigerians, there should be no reason to allow them to operate freely in Nigeria. All their enterprises deserve to be closed down, including MTN, DSTV, Shoprite among others,” he said.
“In the spirit of brotherhood, we have supported them. Our doors have always been opened but it’s time we retaliate by shutting our doors.
“The gruesome killings, looting, arson of properties belonging to Nigerians and attack of Nigerian Embassy in South Africa is ill-conceived, disheartening and wicked.
“How can any sensible person attack and burn a fellow human being just because he or she has a feeling to do so?
“Those mindless criminals who attacked and prevented law abiding Nigerians to freely conduct their businesses must be made to pay for their crimes. Arresting them is not enough.”
There have been reprisal attacks targeting South African businesses in the country. A protester was shot dead after violence broke out at a Shoprite outlet in Lekki, Lagos on Tuesday.
FG must sue South Africa – Falana
Human rights activist, Femi Falana, SAN, yesterday, urged the Federal Government to sue the South African government and demand compensation for Nigerian victims of the xenophobic attacks in the country.
Falana, in a statement, titled: “Beyond the condemnation of xenophobic attacks by the federal government,” said like its counterpart in Nigeria, the political class in South Africa had failed to address the challenge of poverty and inequality confronting the majority of the black people.
“Even though apartheid was defeated by the people of South Africa over two decades ago, the unjust socio-economic system erected by capitalism had not been dismantled. The crisis has been compounded by wanton corruption and the neo-liberal policies of the government.
“Hence, the South African masses have been denied the dividends of democracy by the African National Congress-led government. In particular, the masses have no access to health, housing, education and employment. Out of sheer frustration, millions of young people in South Africa have decided to subject African immigrants to xenophobic attacks,” he said.
According to Falana, the African National Congress, ANC, must accept responsibility for the misdirected antagonism against poor African immigrants.
He said apart from the official condemnation of the shameful and cowardly attacks, the South African Government should fish out the culprits and prosecute them.
“In addition to the payment of adequate compensation to all the victims of the mindless attacks the Government must teach South Africans about the immense contributions of the people of Cuba and a number of African countries to the struggle waged against apartheid and colonialism in the Southern African region.
“However, since the Cyril Ramaphosa administration is not likely to accede to the demand for compensation the federal government should brief a team of lawyers to seek legal redress for the victims of the attacks in South African courts.
“The Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria should be directed to coordinate the legal defence. In view of the regular harassment of Nigerians in South Africa and a few other African countries, the federal government should make the Declaration to enable individual victims of human rights abuse to access the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights sitting in Arusha, Tanzania,” he said.
FLASHBACK: Jonathan deported South Africans after Nigerians were repatriated in 2012
Cases of discrimination and violence against Nigerians living or visiting South Africa are not strange.
After reports of attacks on foreign nationals, especially Nigerians, living in South Africa rippled on Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari sent an envoy to the country to register the government’s displeasure.
The envoy is expected to arrive in South Africa on Thursday.
In 2012, there was a diplomatic row between both countries after some Nigerians were deported.
South African authorities had deported 125 Nigerians over claims that they visited the country with fake yellow-fever vaccination cards.
In a tit-for-tat move, the Nigerian government led by Goodluck Jonathan deported 84 South Africans in two days.
In his remarks, Olugbenga Ashiru, Nigeria’s foreign minister at the time, said South Africa’s action was a xenophobic move.
“African countries including South Africa, should not take Nigeria’s maturity and the friendliness of our people to foreigners for granted,” he said.
“And also they should not take the friendly business environment we have in Nigeria where companies, including South African companies are making more profit in South Africa for granted.
“South Africans will know we are very serious with this matter and that any deportation of any Nigerian, we will meet it with equal reciprocal measure.
“What you see playing out is … xenophobia by South Africans against all Africans, not just Nigerians, including even those from their neighbouring countries.
“Their companies here in Nigeria are making more profit than in South Africa. They bring in half-baked graduates and place them above better qualified Nigerians, and we have been overlooking that before now. There are many ways to hit back.”
Arik Air, a Nigerian airline, also suspended its flights to South Africa.
At the time, it was reported that Nigeria made five requests of South Africa. They were:
unconditional apology over the deportation of 125 Nigerian travelers;
compensation for all the victims of the cruelty;
disciplinary action against all the officials involved in the incident;
a review of the Yellow Fever Vaccination Card policy; and
a commitment that such a diplomatic slip will not reoccur.
South Africa Apologises
Six days after the incident, Ibrahim Ibrahim, the South African deputy foreign minister at the time, tendered an apology to Nigeria.
“We wish to humbly apologise to them, and we have,” Ibrahim said.
“We are apologising because we deported a number of people who should not have been deported,” adding that he does not expect an apology from Nigeria for the tit-for-tat deportations of South African nationals.
He described the deportation as “a regrettable incident which the South African government believes could have been handled better”.
Blaming airport authorities for the incident, he said deportation would hence require approval from officials at the foreign ministry.
