Union partners lawyers to protect Nigerians

chika ebuzor

December 14, 2015 5:44 AM

Osagie also said Nigerians in the province had been law abiding and living in peace with other residents in their host community.

President of South Africa Jacob Zuma gestures during a news briefing at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, November 17, 2015.

The President of Nigeria Union in South Africa, Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, said on Sunday that the body had partnered an NGO, the Lawyers for Human Rights, to protect Nigerians in that country.

Anyene disclosed this at Kimberley, Northern Cape Province of South Africa, at an end-of-year party organised by the Union`s chapter in the province.

He said that the lawyers assisted the union to secure the release of 35 Nigerians and 10 citizens of other African countries detained by immigration officials in that country.

According to Anyene, the Nigerians were arrested on Nov. 5 during a protest at the Home Affairs Office in Pretoria.

The president, however, urged Nigerians in South Africa to embrace the identity card project initiated by the Union and the Nigerian Consulate for their own protection.

He said the card had features of the Nigerian passport and would provide them adequate identification when confronted by law enforcement officers in South Africa.

Anyene also urged them to be law abiding and respect the laws of the host country.

Mr Kennedy Osagie, the Chairman of the Union in Northern Cape Province, said four new wards had been created in the province.

He said the wards would soon be inaugurated when some logistic challenges had been tackled.

chika ebuzor