Nigerians counter South Africans’ xenophobic violence

From EMEKA OKONKWO
ABUJA, (CAJ News) – NIGERIA appears headed for another diplomatic fallout with South Africa after it condemned the recent murder of its two citizen in the Southern African country.
Kingsley Ikeri (27) said to be a businessman and native of Mbaitolu in the southeastern Imo State was reportedly killed at Vryheid town in Kwazulu Natal last Thursday.
The Nigerian Union in South Africa alleged police tortured Ikeri to death.
The deceased is reportedly the second indigene from Imo to be killed in South Africa in the past fortnight.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the senior special assistant to President Muhamadu Buhari on foreign affairs and diaspora, said, “This death is one too many.”
She said diplomatic talks between Nigeria and South Africa “do not seem to be working.”
Dabiri-Erewa called for further intervention by both governments.
“The barbaric behaviour of the perpetrators is not only unacceptable but also calls for urgent attention by diplomatic authorities in Nigeria and South Africa,” Dabiri-Erewa said in Abuja.
She urged the South African government to ensure that justice prevailed by investigating and probing the suspects.
Dabiri-Erewa reiterated calls to Nigerians living abroad to always respect the laws of host countries and be good ambassadors.
“My heart goes out to the families of the deceased and pray God to grant the departed soul eternal rest,” she said.
In February, Nigeria and South Africa were involved in a tiff after violence targeting Nigerians allegedly involved in drug peddling and running prostitution dens.
Dabiri-Erewa said a total of 116 Nigerians have been killed in South Africa through extrajudicial means in the last two years. Police allegedly carried out most of the killings.

– CAJ News