The
Nigerian mission in South Africa on Friday said it had waded into issues
surrounding the alleged quit order given to Nigerians by two communities in
that country.
Martin Cobham, Nigeria’s Acting High
Commissioner in South Africa, told the News Agency of Nigeria on telephone from
Pretoria that the mission was on top of the situation.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the
Nigeria Union in South Africa had accused two communities in that country of
ordering Nigerians residing within their territories to vacate.
Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner in South
Africa said that he had engaged in processes to nip in the bud whatever crisis
or situation that could affect the welfare of Nigerians living in South Africa.
“I engaged the union leader who has given me
the graphic details of what happened.
“In view of that I have engaged with the
authorities here to bring in the community, the police and the Nigerians living
there for a meeting so as to prevent any mayhem.
“On Monday, I am going to dispatch our
officials to the Northern Cape Province to engage in a meeting with the local
police and the community for a tripartite meeting,” he said.
The High Commissioner said that he would also
meet with the authority to ensure that instruction was given to the police not
to allow any outbreak of violence.
“All we
are trying to ensure is to nip in the bud any breakdown of law and order or
anything that could lead to violence.
“So, we in the embassy are on top of the
situation. And I am engaging the union leader and my office is equally engaging
the South African Foreign Ministry on the issue.
“So, I believe with this measure we will be
able to contain all these excesses,” he said.
The President of the union, Ikechukwu Anyene,
had alleged that the Kuruman community in Northern Cape Province also gave
Nigerians till Friday, June 16 to leave.
Mr. Anyene also said that the Klaafontein
community, Extension 5, Johannesburg, directed landlords not to renew the rent
of Nigerians in the community.
He said that the grievance of the South
Africans was that Nigerians were responsible for some social vices such as
illicit drug trade and prostitution.
- Premium Times
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