Nigerian youths under the aegis of Advocates for Collective Transformation (ACT) on Tuesday, February 28, marched to the South African Embassy in Lagos to stage a protest against the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other Africans.
Many Nigerians had been unhappy about the attacks people from other countries in South Africa and had complained bitterly about it to the federal government.
In fact, some Nigerians are of the opinion that South African companies in the country must be abandoned until they (South Africans) can guarantee the safety of those living in the Southern region of Africa.
Stop this attacks on Nigerians, youths tell South African government. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi.
The protesters who were quite few in number, got to the South African High Commission house on Molade Okoya Thomas Street, Victoria Island, much later than the journalists who were waiting to catch a glimpse of the agitators, but were still early enough to articulate their demands.
According to Ayodele Samuel, the media coordinator of the group, they decided to stage the protest to pass a message to the Nigerian government to put an end to the citizens’ suffering in the former Apartheid region.
The protesters echoed the voices of over 80 million Nigerian youths, home and abroad. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi.
“Even as we speak, we heard of an attack on some other Nigerians in South Africa which we totally condemn and stand against.
“We say it is barbaric and unacceptable, and we therefore as the Nigerian government to declare a persona non grata to South Africans unless they can assure us of the safety of our people in their country,” he said.
He added also, that if Nigerians have not been violent to South Africans, therefore, they shouldn’t have a reason to make life miserable for Nigerians.
Fehintoluwa Ajayi, the secretary general of the group also noted that the federal government has a huge role to play in ensuring the safety of the lives and properties of Nigerians living in South Africa.
The South African embassy in Lagos was deserted as at the time the protest took place on Tuesday, February 28. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi.
According to him: “We were brought up by our parents to have so much love, but if we do this to others and they don’t do same to us, there will be trouble.
“We are representing 80 million Nigerian youths home and abroad and are saying that if all our leaders and professionals are killed in diaspora, who will lead us?
“South African emissaries should be disallowed from entering the country until they can guarantee the safety of our people in their country.”
Stern-looking police officers were stationed at the entrance to the gate to ward off any violent attack. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi.
Samson Uwala who also spoke on behalf of the Nigerian students, agreed that it was a barbaric act to kill innocent citizens of Nigeria in South Africa.
While wondering why the killings would not stop since we are all Africans, he said: “We want our government and government in South African to stop the barbaric killings.”
After the peaceful protest in Lagos, nobody from the embassy came out to meet the protesters, rather, it was gathered that the staff of the high commission were asked to shut their gates properly and stay indoors.
The youths asked South Africans to stop killing Nigerians in their country. Photo: Emmanuel Osodi.
Stern-looking police officers were stationed at the entrance of the embassy to protect the lives and properties inside the high commission in the event that any violence breaks out.
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