Nigerians in South Africa are being killed for criminal reasons – Foreign Ministry

shakirudeen taiwo

February 15, 2018 12:46 PM

In the last two years, no fewer than 116 Nigerians have been killed in South Africa through extra-judicial means.

Nigerias Foreign Affairs ministry has declared that most of the attacks against Nigerians in South Africa are more of criminal activities than xenophobic attacks.

The ministry’s spokesperson, Tope Elias-Fatile made this disclosure while briefing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, February 14, 2018. He said the ministry is always in communications with Nigerian mission in South Africa to get reports on activities of Nigerians living in there.

“From the report, I can authoritatively tell you that the killings of Nigerians in South Africa were more of a criminal issue,” he said.

“Consistently we are in touch with the ambassador and the consular in South Africa and that is why I said that the pockets of killing are not actually xenophobia they are more of crime related issues.

“There is a plan for a meeting to address the issues holistically. As I am talking to you the Ministry is in touch with South African authority because that is one of the volatile areas.”

In recent time, Nigerians living in South Africa had suffered many attacks from mobs who are mostly black South Africans. These attacks have led to the loss of lives and destruction of properties.

In January 2018, four Nigerians were killed in similar attacks in Rustenburg and Durban.

He, however, said the government is working with relevant South African authorities to end these attacks.

shakirudeen taiwo

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