Nigeria wants AU to intervene in attacks against its citizens in South Africa

Two days after fresh xenophobic attacks were again launched against Nigerians in Pretoria by rampaging South Africans, the Government of Nigeria has called on the African Union (AU) to intervene in the matter.

Many Nigerians narrowly escaped death in South Africa as they were attacked with sticks, rods, machetes and even guns.

The call by Nigeria was made in Abuja through a statement made available to newsmen by Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora.

Read also: Nigerians escape death, lose property as South Africans launch fresh xenophobic attacks

Dabiri-Erewa who described the attacks as an unnecessary setback revealed that there was credible information at her disposal that more attacks against foreigners would take place this week, advising Nigerians to be extra cautious while also calling on the South African government to take decisive and definitive measures to protect Nigerians and other Africans in their country.

“The attention of the AU was being called upon to intervene because there is credible information tat more xenophobic attacks against foreigners will take place on February 22 and February 23,” the statement by Dabiri-Erewa read in part.

Continuing she added that thus far, the lives of 116 Nigerians have been lost in the last two years in such attacks.

“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,” she added.

 

 

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