XENOPHOBIC ATTACK: FG Issues Strong Warning to South Africans

In a statement issued in Abuja on Monday February 20, Dabiri-Erewa described the attacks on Nigerians in South-Africa as an unnecessary setback. Urging restraint on the part of Nigerians, she warned that further attacks without any reprimand may incur dire consequences.
She spoke as the Senate called for harder stance against South Africa on the issue, just as the Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora Matters, Rita Orji, condemned alleged lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Government towards the protection of Nigerians outside the country, saying the government was more interested in remittances than the welfare of citizens abroad.

Anyene said the union had reported the incident to the Nigeria mission and South African police.

it is reported that currently, five buildings with Nigerian businesses, including a church, have been looted and burned by South Africans. One of the buildings is a mechanic workshop with 28 cars under repairs, with other vital documents burnt during the attack. Also, the pastor of the church was wounded and is in the hospital receiving treatment.

Disturbed by the renewed attacks, Dabiri-Erewa advised Nigerians to be extra cautious because it looked like South African government seemed to have no control over the attacks.

Dabiri-Erewa said the African Union (AU) was being called to intervene because information had it that there will be more xenophobic attacks against foreigners on February 22 and 23.


These attacks should not be allowed to continue because it is a big setback. We have lost about 116 Nigerians in the last two years. And in 2016 alone, about 20 were killed. This is unacceptable to the people and government of Nigeria.