Xenophobia: ‘We shed tears receiving our people’ – Nigerian Govt tells South African delegation

The Nigerian government on Monday lodged a complaint with South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola, over attacks on Nigerians that prompted the recent evacuation of some of its citizens from the country.

DAILY POST reports that the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa had dispatched a special envoy to Abuja for fence-mending  talks following the recurring attacks by South Africans on foreign nationals, including Nigerians.

Reports indicate that President Bola Tinubu shunned the South African delegation, instead directing them to met with the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye.

During the meeting in Abuja, Enikanolaiye told the envoy that anti-migrant violence in South Africa has claimed the lives of at least 98 Nigerians since 2022.

“We have seen a pattern that has become a concern to the Nigerian government,” he said.

The minister further stated that himself and other concerned Nigerians were emotionally traumatized recently when citizens were evacuated from South Africa due the xenophobic attacks.

“I shed tears when I received the first batch of evacuees. I saw children, women and the elderly returning home with almost nothing after their properties had been looted and destroyed. That is not the Africa we want,” he added.

Responding, leader of the South African delegation, Lamola said, “We remain deeply indebted to the people of Nigeria for their sacrifice.”

He added that President Ramaphosa and his government do not support any violence against immigrants.

Nigeria and other African countries recently evacuated their citizens from South Africa following attacks on foreign nationals.