Nigerians in South Africa Demand Action Against Xenophobia

The Nigerian Citizen Association South Africa (NICASA), led by President Frank Onyekwelu, has called on the Nigerian government and African leaders to take decisive action against the persistent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa. In a statement made on Monday, Onyekwelu expressed alarm over the increasing harassment, intimidation, and violence faced by Nigerians, including reports of police brutality.

He emphasized the urgent need for intervention to prevent further escalation of these attacks. Onyekwelu specifically appealed to President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) to develop a firm diplomatic strategy to address these issues.

He highlighted the moral obligation to protect Nigerian citizens abroad and called for high-level diplomatic engagement with South African authorities. NICASA also suggested establishing a transparent mechanism for reporting and documenting cases of abuse and xenophobic violence, urging accountability for law enforcement personnel involved in such acts.