Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has summoned the
South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Bobby Moroe, over the
xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
The envoy was expected to meet with the minister by 11:00 a.m.
on Tuesday.
A senior MFA official, Kimiebi Ebenfa, confirmed the development
in a WhatsApp message.
The message read, “I am directed to inform you that the Minister
of Foreign Affairs has summoned the High Commissioner of South
Africa for a meeting this morning by 11. The meeting was confirmed
a few minutes ago.”
Onyema had said that the Federal Government would take
“definitive measures” in the aftermath of xenophobic attacks on
Nigerians in South Africa.
He was, however, silent on the measures that would be taken over
the increasing violence against Nigerians and other foreigners in
the country.
He described the attackers as mindless criminals, noting that
the police intervention was ineffective.
Onyeama said this on Monday on his verified Twitter handle in
reaction to the burning of Nigerian property by South Africans in
Johannesburg, Marvel, Turfontein and Jamestown, on Sunday
night.
Onyeama had tweeted, “Received sickening and depressing news of
continued burning and looting of Nigerian shops and premises in
#SouthAfrica by mindless criminals with ineffective police
protection. Enough is enough. We will take definitive
measures.”
The latest attacks on foreigners in South Africa started last
week after a taxi driver was murdered by an alleged drug dealer in
Pretoria.
Speculations that the alleged killer was a Nigerian sparked
protest, looting and burning of foreign-owned businesses.
The police had struggled to bring the attacks under control.
Our correspondent reported that Onyema was also scheduled to
meet with his SA counterpart to discuss the escalating xenophobic
attacks.
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