The Nigerian Union in South Africa claimed that over 20 Nigerians living in the community were affected although none of them had been reported dead in the incident.
The President of the Union, Ikechukwu Anyene, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Pretoria, South Africa, that the Northern Cape Province Chapter Chairman of the Union reported the incident to its National Secretariat.
He said,
“The National Secretariat of Nigeria Union has received report of xenophobic attacks from Mr Kennedy Osagie, the Northern Cape Province chapter chairman of the union.
“The report indicated that South Africans attacked Nigerians.
“Two cars belonging to Nigerians have been reportedly burnt and they have been going from house to house looting and destroying their property.
“Six Nigerians have taken refuge with their families in nearby SpringBok community and they do not know the whereabouts of the other Nigerians.”The union reported the incident to the Nigerian Consulate in South Africa. Confirming the incident, Nigeria’s Consul General in South Africa, Uche Ajulu-Okeke, said the mission had commenced investigations.
“The Nigerian Consulate in South Africa has received report of new xenophobic attacks in Northern Cape Province of South Africa.
“The mission has commenced investigation into the incident and will ensure that Nigerians are safe in South Africa,” she said.There were deadly xenophobic attacks between March and April 2015, with locals attacking, looting and killing at least five African migrants.
Before the inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Association of Nigerian Students had issued a warning to South Africa’s president, Jacob Zuma, to stay away from the inauguration ceremony, because of the attacks in his country, but Zuma attended the event.
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