Nigerians living in South Africa through a trending video have raised the alarm over a fresh wave of xenophobic threats by an anti-migrant group known as Operation Dudula.
The outcry comes amid sustained harassment that began earlier this year, fuelling fears of another round of xenophobic violence.
Leaders of Nigerian communities are calling for urgent diplomatic intervention following reports of attacks and harassment allegedly spearheaded by the group, which has been accused of blocking foreigners from accessing public hospitals.
In the trending viral video clip one of the group’s leaders was captured ordering foreigners out of a public hospital.
“If you know yourself that you are not a South African, please stand up. Stand up right now. Don’t try us because we are going to check everybody,” he declared while marching them out of the facility.
Founded as a grassroots campaign, Operation Dudula claims to be fighting illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and what it calls the unlawful takeover of jobs and services by undocumented foreigners.
According to reports, members of the group have been blocking clinics, inspecting businesses, and confronting immigrants.
