XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS AGAINST NIGERIANS IN SOUTH AFRICA

A QUICK REMINDER TO NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT TO ACT SWIFTLY BEFORE IT SPILLS OUT HAND.

By LARRY OKEZIE

23/02/17.

It’s no more a news to us that Nigerians are on daily basis now been attacked, brutalized, maimed and killed in South Africa under the guise of xenophobia.

“Xenophobia”, An intense dislike or fear of people from other countries. “Foreigners”.

This renewed anti-immigrant violence attacks by south Africans against Nigerians has left several properties, shops, homes, businesses and investments belonging to Nigerians worth millions of Naira destroyed with several others in their hundreds sent to their early graves.

The Nigerian community in South Africa are now living in pains, agonies and fear with the renewed ‘xenophobic’ attacks on non citizens especially Nigerians.

Despite all this, I’m saddened by the way the Nigerian government has been handling the horrible development. Since president Jacob Zuma seems not to care about the entire crisis. Without much ado, It’s high time the federal government of Nigeria act divisively to condemn in totally the senseless, brutal and reckless killings of Nigerians in South by taking harder stance against the country rather than mere media condemnation. It’s high time the Nigerian government wake up from their slumber by taking drastic measures and stand to rise in defense of her people.

The extrajudicial killing of the 34 year old Nigerian business man Tochukwu Nnadi by South African policemen on December 29 2016 is still fresh in our memory which brought to 20 the number of Nigerians resident in that country summarily dispatched to early graves without the benefit of trial as at last year December.

Tochukwu’s case is typical of the gory fate that confronts Nigerians among fellow Africans in the former Apartheid enclave. He was confronted by the police on allegations of drug peddling. By its own account, the Nigeria Union in the city of Pretoria quoting eyewitnesses, said the victim neither resisted arrest nor struggled with his captors. Yet, much like the way white American policemen brutalize African Americans, he was pummeled to the ground and choked to death.

However, The last weekend recent attacks on Nigerians in Pretoria west where their businesses, buildings were burnt seriously call for serious concern and must not be swept under carpet.

Over 120 Nigerians has been killed in the last two years. While 20 were killed last year alone. 640 Nigerians were also reported to have died from police brutality or in custody in South Africa.

Now our people are apparently living in fear of the unknown has they have promised more attacks in days to come. While Nigerians kept receiving threatening anonymous phone calls requesting that money be paid to avert destruction of their houses, businesses and properties.

This atrocities against Nigerians in South Africa demand a strong response from our government.
Our government should wake up from its treacherous slumber and demand justice for Nigerians wherever they are.

The resort to lynching of Nigerians by South Africans and their government’s inaction to act and curb the senseless unjust killings and brutalization of Nigerians in their country over unverified accusations and sheer hatred must stop immediately.

Though, Its xenophobia, also targets other African migrants attracted to its $323 billion economy, but Nigerians bear the brunt.

Nigerians, their businesses and homes are been attacked. Nigerians are been stoned, killed, stabbed with knives and falsefully dislodged from their residence and business shops without any concrete offense.

They call it ‘Ethnic Cleansing’ which was provoked by anti-immigrant rhetoric by the Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini, and President Jacob Zuma who separately suggested that immigrants were taking up and denying indigenes jobs.

And what should Nigerian government expect from a President who obviously initiated and of course in support of this killings?

Despite all this attacks that has sent several Nigerians in their hundreds to their early graves, yet the Nigerian government has been weak, vacillating and uncaring about the fate of its own citizens.

The time has come for Nigerian government to take a tough stance with South Africa whose leaders and people have not only failed to fully acknowledge Nigeria’s role during the days of their anti-Apartheid struggle.

This is the same country Nigerian government had spent billion of dollars to defend in the past. This is the same south Africa in the spirit of solidarity Nigeria boycotted several international competition in rise for her support and defense. This is the same Nigeria where Thabo Mbeki and Nelson Mandela would ran to in those days to hide and graciously welcomed by Nigerian Government.

They would sleep, relax and lodged in our government house with maximum hospitality and are subsequently been fed with Nigerian money.
Where’s history? (I think they should be reminded)

But rather to appreciate all this, South Africans are only compensating and treating us with disdain both at home and in Nigeria where South African businesses have been accused of maltreating their local employees.

We do not need to wait to simply retaliate like we did in 2012 when South Africa turned back an aeroplane with 125 passengers from Johannesburg airport on the flimsy allegation that their yellow fever inoculation cards were fake.

A reprisal against a South African jetliner and reminder of the country’s business interests in Nigeria calmed the haughty South Africans, prompting Zuma to come calling in Abuja.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry should take up the case of every Nigerian wrongfully killed or harassed in South Africa in the local courts.

Our High Commission should have a robust policy of keeping track of every Nigerian legally resident or visiting South Africa. There is the need to demand justice for the slain Nigerians by not only arresting and prosecuting their killers, but by paying adequate compensation to families of the victims. This is an irreducible minimum to ensure that justice is served.

We should let South Africans know that we need each other and Nigeria cannot be a junior partner in our bilateral relations. There are over 100 South African companies doing thriving business in Nigeria, some, like MTN, Shoprite, MultiChoice (DSTV/GOTV), Stanbic and South African Breweries, are very good examples.

Nigerians run many small business and service outlets also in South Africa. In 2012, 73,282 Nigerian tourists visited South Africa, contributing 720 million rand to its economy while Nigeria’s Aliko Dangote is investing $3.7 billion in cement production in the country.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, has been unimpressive. He needs not wait for the President to instruct him before forcefully taking up the case of any Nigerian ill-treated or murdered in any country.

Institutions should be made to work. He should act decisively today. Our foreign missions should exist to promote the country and its nationals’ interest, not to fatten officials. This is the standard practice in international relations. Our South African mission needs a shake-up as so many Nigerians have suffered on its watch.

Our government must however fulfil its responsibility to Nigerians by engaging in furious diplomatic activity to get justice for Tochukwu and every other Nigerian victim of South Africa’s xenophobia/extra judicial killings and random murder.

Enough is Enough
The time to act is now.
Awa Mumu don do.

LARRY OKEZIE

Social Critics/Public Affairs Analyst.
Writes from Abuja, Nigeria.
Can be reach on +2348097253115, larryslink1@gmail.com.