ABUJA – Senate of the Federal Republic yesterday, lent its weight to hues and cries against xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa and summoned the Foreign Affairs Minister, Amb. Aminu Wali just as it urged the Federal Government to recall the Nigeria High Commissioner to that country, Amb. S.S. Yusuf, for consultations.
They also urged the Federal Government to file an international suit at the International Criminal Court against Zulu King, for instigating the crisis against foreigners particularly Nigerians living in the SA.
Moreso, the red chamber has resolved that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Aminu Wali, to brief the Senate Committee on International Affairs, on the situation and measures being taken to safeguard the lives and properties of Nigerians in South Africa.
The senators further urged the Federal Government to pressurize the government of South Africa to bring the perpetrators of the evil act to justice and ensure adequate protection of Nigerians and their investments in that country as well as compensate families who have lost members and those who have lost property as a result of these attacks.
This is even as South Africa has closed its consulate in Lagos, Nigeria, following protests sparked by the xenophobic attacks in SA. The closure was announced by the South African Consul-General in Nigeria, Sam Monaisa.
Monaisa said, in an email to the South African business forum in Nigeria, that the office would remain closed till today, Thursday, April 23, 2015, The Nigerian Observer gathered.
The Consul General also reportedly accused Nigerians of using social media to blow an already tense situation out of proportion and warned members of the forum members to be mindful of their movement as South African businesses and citizens usually became targets of threats and acts of retaliation whenever xenophobic attacks occurred in the country.
In their condemnation of the recent spate of xenophobic attacks on immigrants and particularly Nigerians in South Africa, the Senate noted with anxiety, the recent wave of xenophobic attacks in parts of Johannesburg and Durban South Africa by locals on African Immigrants which has led to the death of no fewer than seven persons, massive looting and destruction of foreigners’ properties, forcing hundreds of migrants to relocate to police stations across the country.
They were also concerned that Nigerians living in South Africa have been seriously affected by this crisis as no fewer than 50 have been reportedly rendered homeless after being displaced by these attacks and about 300 others displaced near Johannesburg.
Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba who presented the motion asserted that as at the last count, properties and Nigerian businesses worth millions of Naira have been destroyed.
He was worried that Nigerians living in South Africa who have always been targets of such attacks and other foreigners have maintained that immigrants could not really rely on the police for protection because the police rather maltreat and exhort money from them.
The Senate Leader recalled that prior to 1994, though immigrants faced discrimination and even violence in South Africa, much of that risk stemmed from the institutionalized racism of the time due to apartheid.
“However, after democratization in 1994, contrary to expectations, the incidence of xenophobia increased such that between 2000 and March 2008, at least 67 people died in what were identified as xenophobic attacks. Likewise, in May 2008, a series of riots motivated by xenophobia left 62 people dead”, he. Onto used.
The Senate was also alarmed that the recent wave of attacks was precipitated by the comments of a renowned Zulu King and while these barbaric acts were going on, some members of the South African Security Forces who ought to quell the violence, protect victims and prevent the violence from escalating were pictured encouraging the perpetrators to continue in their dastardly acts.
They were disturbed that despite the sacrifices made by this country to put an end to apartheid and ensure the emancipation of South Africa, the people of South Africa have continued to maltreat and humiliate Nigerians without just cause.
The federal legislators however recognized that more than 300 people have so far been arrested following assaults on immigration.
