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

A week after South African nationals in Rosettenville, south of Johannesburg, burnt houses and rented apartments belonging to Nigerians and other foreigners, a fresh attack was launched again with scores of Nigerians narrowly escaping death.

Reports say local South Africans went on rampage in Pretoria attacking Nigerians and other foreigners in their apartments with machetes, knives, metal rods, guns and cudgels.

Recounting her ordeal, Uchechi Okon a boutique owner who has spent 10-years in South Africa revealed that the attack by the South Africans in his neighbourhood of Rosazitta Street, Pretoria West lasted for 8 hours.

“Everything happened in a flash. They said they were looking for Nigerians selling drugs. I was sleeping. The next thing I heard was loud banging on the gate. My Nigerian roommate and I occupy the building in front, while the back was occupied by the family of my white landlord.

“A mob of South African women and men were forcing the gate open. We ran to the back of the premises to hide. By then, they had broken the door down and come into the compound. They said they were looking for the Nigerians that lived there, but my white landlady was shouting back that there was no Nigerian living there.

“They came with all kinds of weapons—knives, rods and so on. I heard later that they shot people in similar attacks, but I couldn’t see if they had guns. I was peeping through the window. It happened between 8.30 am and 4 pm. They went from house to house.” Uchechi said.

Read also: South Africans burn houses of Nigerians, other nationals in fresh attacks

Continuing, he added; “When they didn’t see us, they stole all our properties and burnt my apartment with my clothes. Right now, I don’t have a passport. I don’t know whether they stole it or it got burnt down with the rest of my clothes and other belongings. I am now living in my car. The only clothes I have are the ones on my back.”

In his comments following the incident, Adetola Olubajo, the Secretary General, Nigerian Union South Africa, revealed that the attacks started 14 days ago.

“It all started in Johannesburg. They attacked an organised community and 29 cars were burnt down. We were there with the minister of home affairs to have a security walkabout. That subsided, then we started hearing and seeing notices that these people wanted to attack foreigners, Nigerians in particular on February 23 and 24. So, we have been telling our people to be vigilant.

“Nigerians are on the verge of fighting back, because their lives are in danger. These attackers are not here to scare anybody. They are here to kill. I have seen them strike before. Some of them (Nigerians) have kids. Their entire lives are here”‘ he said.

Olubajo also informed that most apartment of Nigerians were looted first before they are burnt down even as the attacks are carried out under the watchful eyes of local police.

“Some of our people said the police were looting with them, which is what we have seen before. It is not the first time that we are seeing the police, who are supposed to be protecting us, looting with the hoodlums.

“The most annoying thing is that our mission here is about 5km from the scene of the attacks. But none of them is coming to do anything, while the embassies of other nationals, who have not been attacked, have demonstrated their assistance.

The attack is coming weeks after the Nigerian government through the Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa revealed that no less than 116 Nigerians have lost their lives in xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

Dabiri-Erewa made the startling revelation on her visit to the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lulu Mnguni, in Abuja. During the visit, she also sought assurances that such attacks on Nigerians be stopped but the recent attacks shows that the lives and property of Nigerians and other nationals in South Africa are not guaranteed after all.

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