The federal government on Tuesday pleaded with Nigerians against carrying out retaliation against South Africans and their interest in Nigeria
Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, while speaking with State House Correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, ruled out reciprocal actions against the current attacks.
The attacks targeted at the livelihoods of Nigerians living in South Africa, led to the killing of Nigerians and wanton destruction of their property
The Foreign Affairs Minister premised his stand on assurances by the South African government to strengthen measures that will forestall any future attacks against Nigerians in South Africa
“We don’t believe that two wrongs make right. I think in terms of revenge on those kinds of attacks is not what we are looking forward to, the South African government has assured us that they are doing everything possible to address the situation, that they are equally exasperated by the whole event. We believe that with that goodwill, we may be able to work together to put in place these mechanisms that would make a difference.
Speaking on the dispatch of special envoys to South Africa by President Buhari, Onyeama listed two key demands which would be pursued by the envoy to include “the compensation payment and security mechanism to be put in place to forestall future attacks.”
“We need to have a viable mechanism in place. Like I have said, one of the possibilities that we are proposing is to have some Nigerian security operatives working with the South African police and attached to the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa.”
Following the upsurge in the number of Nigerians killed as a result of the latest xenophobic attacks in South Africa, President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday said he was dispatching a Special Envoy to meet with the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday.
President Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, expressed deep concerns over the reported attacks on Nigerian citizens and property in South Africa since August 29, 2019.
The President also directed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, to summon the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria and get a brief on the situation; express Nigeria’s displeasure over the treatment of her citizens; and assurance of the safety of their lives and property.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, while speaking with reporters in Kano, also condemned the attacks against Nigerians living in South Africa.
Osinbajo described the actions of the South Africans as “ careless and reckless”.
“It is unfortunate because Nigeria and Nigerians invested a great deal in the pulling down of apartheid. Besides, 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 has already spoken about this, and obviously we are very concerned and certainly intend to take this up with the authorities in South Africa in order to ensure that this sort of thing does not repeat itself. This is absolutely unacceptable and unconscionable.”
Tony Ailemen, Abuja
