FG condemns burning to death of Nigerian by mob in South Africa, as Nigerian Mission writes protest letter

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs Abike dabiri –Erewa, on Monday, described the killing of Clement Nwaogu, another Nigerian in Rustenburg, South Africa as unfortunate.
Dabiri-Erewa, in a statement in Abuja condemned the burning of Nwaogu to death by a mob in the latest xenophobia attack in South Africa.
She called on South African authorities to find lasting solution to the incessant killing of Nigerians in that country.
She also urged Nigerians living abroad to obey the laws of countries where they lived, and avoid crime and criminality to avoid unwarranted attacks and killings.
The killing of Nwaogu comes less than 10 days after another Nigerian, ThankGod Okoro, 30, was killed.
The Presidential aide said Rustenburg, where the incident happened, was a particularly hostile and volatile community.
She noted that 14 Nigerians who protested the killing of a fellow citizen in that country North West Province some months ago were still in detention.
She said though a bailable offence, the judge had been threatened not to release them.
“Just a few days ago, on April 17, the case came up in court. There was so much tension that even the Nigerian lawyers representing the Nigerians had to be escorted to court by Diplomatic police.
“The community has vowed to deal with anyone who plays a positive role in getting the accused Nigerians return to Rustenberg,” she said.
She said that the Nigerian mission in Pretoria and the consulate in Johannesburg had done everything possible, in the recent past, to get justice for Nigerians in South Africa.
“Four South African policemen are currently in court for allegedly killing and maltreating Nigerians with embassy officials constantly present in court for the hearings. This is the first time this will be happening.
“However, the early warning signals put in place by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Interiors of both countries need to be reviewed.”
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Mission in South Africa has written a letter of protest to South African Authority over Nwaogu’s killing.
The Nigeria Consul General in Johannesburg, Mr Godwin Adama, said that the mission had waded into issues surrounding renewed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians
Adama, who condemned the act of burning Nwaogu to death by a mob in the latest xenophobia attack in that country, said that the Nigerian Mission in South Africa was on top of the situation
““The High Commissioner has been on top of the situation, he has spoken with the Nigerian community sent the officers to calm down the situation.
“”Tomorrow morning, we are meeting on the matter with him. In fact, he had written a letter of protest to the South African Authority and he is waiting for their response to see the next action to be taken on the matter.
“”We are working collectively as the two missions in the country so as to be on the same page over the incident, in reacting to the issues,” he said.
He explained that the community, Rustenburg, had been a hot spot in recent time.
“Some South Africans have erroneous belief that some Nigerians were involved in drugs. Unfortunately the particular guy that was attacked was not involved in drugs. He had his genuine business.
“They went to his shop on that fateful day, told him to bring the drug he was keeping, the guy said there was no drug in his shop that he was a genuine business man but they did not listen to him.
“They attacked the guy, beat him to coma and set him ablaze but was taken to the hospital where he died later.
“So it was going to generate a lot of issues and the mission had to intervene particularly the High Commissioner, because each district is under the supervision of the high commission in Pretoria,” he said.
While explaining that South Africa has been a very volatile country, he said that there was the need for Nigerians living in the country to be very careful and behave themselves so as not to fall victim
He expressed the hope that the new government in that country would take appropriate measure and meet with the relevant authorities to address the issue once and for all.