Nigeria may retaliate against South Africa over xenophobic attacks

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has stated that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is considering retaliatory measures against South Africa over its perceived complacency and apathetic response to violent xenophobic attacks that have made several parts of the country unsafe for Nigerians and other African foreigners.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the South African government is “not doing enough” to address the long-standing issue of xenophobia.

“This is a situation that we are considering, but it is up to our legislature,” she said. “It is a decision that has to be taken at the highest level of government, but it’s not off the table.”

The minister expressed Nigeria’s displeasure with South Africa, noting that the latest wave of xenophobic violence led to the deaths of two Nigerians—Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew. In April, the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg reported that the victims were attacked and beaten by officials of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in Port Elizabeth.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu highlighted that Nigerians continue to be victimised despite Nigeria’s significant sacrifices for South Africa in the past, referencing Nigeria’s role in the anti-apartheid struggle from the 1960s to the 1990s, during which Nigeria provided financial, military, diplomatic, and humanitarian support.

“Nigeria has sacrificed much for the South African struggle for independence. Nigeria sacrificed quite a lot, committed funds, committed resources to aid South Africa,” she said.

The minister also dismissed as false the South African government’s claim that the violence is directed only at illegal immigrants. She stated that many Nigerians with valid legal status have been victims, with their shops, homes, and businesses looted or destroyed.

“That is absolutely untrue,” she said. “Citizens are being harassed. Citizens, their properties are being looted. Criminal actions are perpetuated on our citizens.”

Her remarks come days after the Nigerian police warned citizens against retaliatory attacks on South African interests in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government is set to repatriate about 1,000 Nigerians from South Africa. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa disclosed on Monday that the government plans to deploy aircraft for the evacuation once the ongoing verification exercise is completed, with the state covering the cost of return flights.

The repatriation, initially scheduled for Monday, was postponed to Wednesday due to “unforeseen logistical considerations,” and the screening timeline has been extended to accommodate more Nigerians.

On this, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said preparations remain on course, adding that citizens imperilled by the violence “will have the chance of getting on this aircraft to be brought back to their country.”

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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