EXCLUSIVE: Nigerian Embassy Shuts Door On Nigerians Attacked In South Africa
Speaking with Sahara Reporters on Monday, a handful of Nigerians in South Africa revealed how they now live in fear.
BY SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORKSEP 02, 2019




The Nigerian Embassy in South Africa has shut its door to Nigerian victims of ongoing xenophobic attacks in the former apartheid colony.

The latest attacks against nationals of other African countries domiciled in South Africa, which started on August 28, 2019, has spread to several parts of that country, raising fears of more violence in the coming days.

Speaking with Sahara Reporters on Monday, a handful of Nigerians in South Africa revealed how they now live in fear.

According to them, some victims of the attack, who visited the Nigerian Embassy for help and protection were denied entry into the place.

Former president of Nigerian Union South Africa, Iyke Anyene, told Sahara Reporters that Nigerians had remained in the houses, afraid for their lives and unsure if they would be the next victims.

He said, “In some parts of Guateng Province the looting has continued.

“It started in Pretoria and people have not been able to do their businesses. It is not safe, there is widespread looting.

“Some Nigerian victims went to the high commission but were denied entry into the place.

“The high commission claimed that they are dealing with the situation but we don't know what to do. We need results, people are losing their lives and properties.”

He said migrants from other African countries are also affected in the attacks and looting, adding that the South African police are usually overwhelmed when such attacks happen.

He added, “All African migrants are affected. When it happened in Pretoria, the police was there but couldn’t stop the attack.

“In Johannesburg, they were not able to stop anything. It is a very serious problem at the moment.”

A Nigerian business woman, Doris Ikeri-Solarin, also told Sahara Reporters that she had remained indoors with her family for fear of being killed by South Africans if they go out of their home.

She said, “There is trouble, it is very tough. There is a state of emergency and the violence is still ongoing.

“No one opened shop today, our movement has been restricted.

“In Mabupane, they burnt our shops on Wednesday but we were able to save the ones we have around Sunnyside.

“These people are reinforcing and they are coming out to attack us.”

Ikeri-Solarin faulted the Nigerian Embassy for shutting citizens out at such time of need.

She added, “A baby just died in Marabasa because of the fire. We are at home, we can't go out, our children cannot go to school, Nigerians inside taxis are dragged out and attacked.

“Nigerian Embassy does not exist. Some of our people affected by this attack went to the high commission but the ambassador did not come out. It is a big shame on them.”

Last Wednesday in Japan during the Tokyo International Conference for Africa Development, President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, said that his government will address the killings of Nigerians in his country.

He added that the country's criminal justice system was looking to proffer lasting solutions.

He said, “On the issue of Nigerians who are dying in South Africa, we feel very upset about that.

“Obviously, our criminal justice system is working on it. We don’t support killings.”

But despite his assurances, South Africans have continued to target Nigerians in xenophobic attacks, killing and destroying businesses belonging to them.

In July, President of Nigeria’s Senate, Ahmed Lawan, disclosed that about 118 Nigerians had so far lost their lives in different attacks in South Africa over the years.

Experts say the figure could may well be above that figure especially several unreported cases of hostilities against Nigerians.

http://saharareporters.com/2019/09/02/exclusive-nigerian-embassy-shuts-door-nigerians-attacked-south-africa

You expect them to open doors to Igbos? They have been killing mostly Igbos for months, government kept dragging foot. Do something, for where. There was no single week we didn't hear of killings or violence against Nigerians here on Nairaland. Only when they realize they are killing all Nigerians did our government, including hypocritical Nigerians woke up. Why didn't you say something all these while? Hypocrites! Now it's too late! Some of you Igbos don't really understand this country at all despite the teachings of Nnamdi kanu.

For those afonjas trying to reply me, your brother below "Duggedised12" just said exactly what I said. You know the truth, most of you have been rejoicing they were killing Igbos in South Africa. Stop pretending!

To seek refuge at the embassy? How many can they accommodate?

There was a country

So bad this man no send

I don't believe this. But I can't doubt it either, after all buhari have been attacking a particular tribe since he became president.

A

This country is fuçked!

That's the reason I don't dabble into this nonsense.

Nigerians are the cause of their sufferings. The blame lies at our feet on so many counts.

We have leaders that have divided us along the lines of tribe and religion so they can continue to piss on our head.

We embraced this divide as a people like uncivilized and uneducated people, even though Nigeria has one of the highest rates of graduates in Africa. Nigerians are divided and with a very useless bunch of leaders anyone can spit on our faces with glee expecting us to do fvçk all.

We only know how to fight Twitter wars... Yet when one idiot local govt chairman drives around in his expensive jeep you will see all the street boys worshipping the ground he walks on.

How the fvçk are they ever gong to take y'all serious?! Y'all are just clowns, puppets that can pulled to whichever way.

This Xenophobia sh!t can't happen if this country was working. Many Nigerians would sit their asses here and work their butts off.

But because of these same nicompoops in the corridors of power they storm out of this country in droves and still don't have peace.

People were laughing at Sowore the other day for trying to do something. This docility will kill us as a Nation. And I am sorry to say, we are toying with the future of today's kids and the generation yet unborn.

Until we stand up and tell these imbeciles that enough is enough, we will continue to be easy target for other nations.. And we will continue to weep as a Nation.

Stupid government.

I'll continue to say this till my last day on earth

Nigeria will never work

Wuna see am! We are just too forking wicked to ourselves and we want other countries and her citizens to forking respect us? Abeg who cursed this Corn-Tree?

Nigerian embassies in in abroad is the worst place you can run to for help. I have always known that n i do all the best to avoid them in any country I visit

helinues:


To seek refuge at the embassy? How many can they accommodate?

Stupid question, as many as possible.

God,i have a serious question,why did you make me a Nigerian? No i just don't know off all the countries on the surface of the earth,you sent me here to receive this reproach. honestly God, its very unfair,very very unfair to have sent me here.

This country has the most stupid and incompetent leaders walking the face of the earth ,they also have the most bigoted and tribalistic people on earth, it was when i joined nairaland that i realized just how much we hated ourselves.sorry to say,if you still think Nigeria will be better, you are delusional and need to see a psychiatrist.


The truth of the matter is that this govt has been dragging its feet on this issue because they feel its ibos that are affected, just like most nairalanders have been gyrating and mocking ibos whenever attacks like this happen over the years. Even till know many nairalanders feel its only ibos that are affected so they should carry their cross, if you have that mindset, all i have to say is FVCK YOU!


PS, i am not ibo ,for those of you idiotic morons ready to get your leprosy infested fingers to typing.

When the head of the fish is rotten.

Can we all see that Nigerians are the main Problem of Nigerians? Even the Embassy couldn't even render an assistance to her people. This is quite unbelievable.

Actually, it's not out of place for the embassy to shut its doors, they cannot accommodate everybody and they also risk being attacked if they take in too many Nigerians.
It's understandable that blood is hot and Nigerians who are turned down will feel betrayed but it's the right thing to do technically.
As for South Africa, all they know from inception is violence. Since they are able to achieve independence with violence, freed Nelson Mandela with violence and got their first black president violently, they are used to doing things with violence but they forget that they cannot go far without accommodating people around them.

Nigerian government.. Abeg make una go help our brothers oo

I said it earlier. "Did this shame act by SA started today? Hell no! SA simply took on this xenophobic attack mode because of how it must have seen all the injustices & oppressive tendencies the Nigerian govt have meted out to its own people.Charity begins from home."

Yet the FG is shouting enough is enough back home while the Minister of foreign affairs is summoning the SA ambassador to Nigeria.

That's why South Africans continue the attacks. They know we have no government

this is really sickening

the Nigerian government for some idiotic, stupid reasons known to only themselves are deliberately folding their hands on an issue as serious as this

And I'm tired of slowpokes saying those Nigerians over there should "pack and leave"... Should be chased out to come and rebuild the shithole here

Is that how it's easy to just leave your hard earned business, your life investments, and just come back to this shithole

Come back and start from where.
people in the shithole are still fighting over the little jobs that be. And you're saying they should leave all they have worked for in SA to come back

They have their rights even as foreigners and I suggest the SA lazy yoots and it's stupid govt better respect it.

If they have been found guilty of something, then they should be deported. If not, then they should be given their rights and privileges as every other human

2loadedguy:

What right in a foreign land? I can assure you many of them are even staying without papers. They will go there on tourist visas and start setting up businesses. I support the call that they should return home rather than getting killed for nothing, they can come and start drinking garri in peace in Nigeria and they won't be the first.

What right in a foreign land

It's obvious you don't know anything about human rights.
the lawlessness in Nigeria must have had it's toll on you
I would spare your ignorance

I can assure you many of them are even staying without visas

How did you come up with this assurance
Are you working in an Intel organization.
Again, I will spare your ignorance.

I support the call that they should come back home

Which home??
this same Nigeria that's experiencing it's own internal crisis??
they should return home and leave their properties and investments to come and drink garri with you, because some deluded lazy yoots over there are being misguided by hate and jealousy

Do we still have a president in this country at all

ANY NIGERIAN THAT STILL HOPE ON THIS COUNTRY IS DOOM

Nigeria needs a fearless and active President. Like the fatboy in North Korea, or the non boisterous deadly old snake in Russia.

Last last nobody loves this country, we're just one for mouth.

I am deeply saddened by this report. It really feels like a curse to be a Nigerian. Never has life been so valueless.

I am depressed.