Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has finally reacted to the recent Xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
South Africans had on Sunday begun fresh attacks, looting and burning of businesses and properties belonging to foreigners and killing some people in the process.
The attack, which was the second within a week, began on Sunday morning in Jeppestown area of Johannesburg when a building was set on fire by angry mobs.
A statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina today September 3rd, says President Buhari has sent a Special Envoy to South Africa to convey to President Cyril Ramaphosa, his concerns over reported attacks on Nigerian citizens and property in the former apartheid enclave since August 29th.
See the full statement below:
XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS: PRESIDENT BUHARI DESPATCHES SPECIAL ENVOY TO SOUTH AFRICA
President Muhammadu Buhari has noted with deep concern, reported attacks on Nigerian citizens and property in South Africa since August 29, 2019.
Consequently, the President has instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, to summon the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria and get a brief on the situation; express Nigeria’s displeasure over the treatment of her citizens; and assurance of the safety of their lives and property.
President Buhari has also despatched a Special Envoy to convey to President Cyril Ramaphosa his concerns and also interact with his South African counterpart on the situation.
The Special Envoy is expected to arrive in Pretoria latest Thursday, September 5, 2019.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
September 3, 2019
The statement comes hours after Mr Onyeama met with South Africa’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Bobby Monroe.
The meeting may not be unconnected with the President’s directive to engage the South African envoy on the killing of Nigerians in the country.
At the meeting, Monroe denied reports of Xenophobic attacks in his country, saying the violence was not targeted at Nigerians.
He, however, said the attacks were ‘sporadic acts of violence’, claiming that businesses belonging to South Africans were also affected.