As Xenophobia on Sunday reared its ugly head again in South Africa, Nigerians have lost more than nine shops to arsonists in Hillbrow, central Johannesburg.
The Publicity Secretary of Nigerian Union in South Africa, Mr Habib Miller, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the telephone from Pretoria on Monday that South Africans allegedly committed the act.
Miller said that the union had informed the Nigerian Mission in South Africa and was expecting their response to the development.
“Nine Nigerian businesses have been looted and burnt. The incident began on Sunday and continued till Monday, Oct. 22.
“Businesses affected range from restaurants, internet cafe, bar, groceries and stores.
“ At the time of the incident, electricity in the area was cut off. One of the businesses affected is owned by Mr C.J. Ubah, a bar owner at Fife Street,’’ he said.
Miller called on the police to come to the rescue of Nigerians by protecting their lives and property.
“The union is monitoring the situation. We have not received any report of casualty on any Nigerian, but the situation is still tense because there are fears that the looting will resume in the night.
“ We have also advised Nigerians in the area to adopt safety measures by being alert,’’ Miller said.
NAN reports that xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa hit a high magnitude in 2016 but it had occurred in 2015, when a series of attacks were carried out on nationals of foreign countries.
In that attack nationals of Zimbabwe and Nigeria bore the brunt of the violence. That particular incident was attributed to the inciting words of the Zulu king who called on all foreigners to leave the country.
Prior to that time there had been reported attacks in 1998, 2000, 2008, 2009 and 2013.
Emeh Achanga,the CEO of the Miss Petite Nigeria Brand is a lawyer turned blogger. She is very passionate about writing, with several publications and awards to her credit .She is currently working on publishing a collection of short stories which are basically a memoir about her exciting true experiences.
