The Nigerian Mission in South Africa has written a letter of protest to the South African authority over the killing of another Nigerian, Mr. Clement Nwaogu, in Rustenburg, South Africa.
Godwin Adama, the Nigerian Consul General in Johannesburg, South Africa, said the mission has waded into issues surrounding the renewed xenophobic attacks on Nigeria.
Mr. Adama who condemned the act of burning Mr. Nwaogu to death by a mob in the latest xenophobia attack in that country said that the Nigerian Mission in South Africa was on top of the situation.
“The High Commissioner has been on top of the situation, he has spoken with the Nigerian community and has sent officers to calm down the situation”.
“Tomorrow morning we are meeting on the matter with him. In fact, he had written a letter of protest to the South African authority and he is waiting for their response to see the next action to be taken on the matter”.
“We are working collectively as the two missions in the country so as to be on the same page over the incident, as relating the issues,” he said.
He explained that the community, Rustenburg, had been a hot spot in recent time.
Mr. Adama said that 13 Nigerians, who protested the killing of a fellow citizen in Rustenburg in February, were arrested and charged to court for public disturbance.
He said that the mission had been going to court over the matter and had to be escorted by security due to threats.
“The community has vowed to deal with anyone who plays a positive role in getting the accused Nigerians return to Rustenberg,” Mr. Adama said.
According to him, the latest incident is apparently a reaction to their threat of dealing with any Nigerian that they find in their community.
“They were having erroneous belief that some Nigerians were involved in drugs. Unfortunately, the particular guy that was attacked was not involved in drugs. He had his genuine business.
“They went to his shop on that fateful day, told him to bring the drug he was keeping, the guy said there was no drug in his shop, that he was a genuine business man but they did not listen to him.
“They attacked the guy, beat him to coma and set him ablaze but was taken to the hospital where he died later.
“So it was going to generate a lot of issues and the mission had to intervened particularly the High Commissioner, because each district is under the supervision of the high commission in Pretoria,” he said.
While explaining that South Africa has been a very volatile country, he said that there was the need for Nigerians living in the country to be very careful and behave themselves so as not to fall victim.
He expressed the hope that the new government in that country would take appropriate measure and meet with the relevant authorities to address the issue once and for all.
