Hundred of Nigerians today took to the streets in Abuja, the nation’s capital, to protest the gruesome killing of innocent Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa. The demonstrators also gave the South African authorities a 24-hour ultimatum to end the attacks or risk the shutting down of the country’s embassy in Nigeria as well as businesses owned by South Africans in Nigeria.[slideshow]39167[/slideshow]
The protests, organized by the Advocate For Peoples’ Rights and Justice (APRJ) and 1 Africa Initiative, were held outside South Africa’s embassy located in Abuja’s Central Area. The protesters carried placards that read “We Say No to Killings of Our Brothers,” “Say No To Xenophobia,” “We Are Our Brothers Keepers,” “Mandela Lives and Stood For Unity,” “We Are All Foreigners Somewhere.”
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, APRJ’s national coordinator, Victor Giwa, urged the South African to find a lasting solution to the gruesome killings of Nigerians and other Africans who have become the target of the xenophobic attacks. He warned that South Africa would face the shutting down of its embassy and its citizens’ businesses in Nigeria.
Mr. Giwa condemned the xenophobic attacks as barbaric, uncivilized and unjustified. “We know the sacrifices Nigeria made for South Africans to be liberated from apartheid and the effort of President Olusegun Obasanjo and General Yakubu Gowon who visited the late Nelson Mandela in prison,” he said.
Speaking at the protest, Ahmad Isah, a radio presenter who is the president of Berekete Family, said some of those perpetuating the crimes against immigrants had forgotten the role Nigeria played towards their freedom. “They have forgotten so quick that South Africans also live in Nigeria and also have their investments. Ironically, no Nigerian has attacked MTN, DSTV, Shoprite and many more which are all South African-owned companies since they commenced business in Nigeria,” he said. Mr. Isah added, “One therefore wonders the justification for the xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other foreigners who live and do business in South Africa.”
The speaker maintained that all Africans were one and together fought slavery, colonialism, apartheid and imperialism and conquered.
The protest leaders said their mission was a peaceful one, and called on the United States of America and the rest of the international community to demand immediate action from South African authorities to stop the current crime against humanity and to ensure that justice was done. They demanded adequate compensation for all Nigerians whose properties were destroyed.
The protesters also condemned the action of the police in South Africa, accusing the law enforcement agents of offering cover to South Africans who looted shops owned by foreigners.
The protesters also visited MTN, DSTV, Shoprite, Human Right Commission, National Assembly, and Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Heavily armed mobile policemen were stationed around the South African embassy to prevent the protesters from gaining entry.
Members of the National Association of Nigerian Students have vowed to attack all South African-owned businesses in Nigeria on the expiration of an ultimatum it gave to the South African authorities. Many interest groups and human right activists have voiced their demand for action against those carrying out wanton destruction of immigrants’ lives and property in South Africa.