Xenophobia: Rights group wants FG tough reaction, UN involvement

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has urged the Acting President Professor Yemi Osinbanjo to summon the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria to protest the incessant killings in xenophobic mayhems masterminded by black South Africans. The organisation also asked the United Nations Security Council to send peace keeping missions to black townships […]

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has urged the Acting President Professor Yemi Osinbanjo to summon the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria to protest the incessant killings in xenophobic mayhems masterminded by black South Africans.

The organisation also asked the United Nations Security Council to send peace keeping missions to black townships in South Africa to prevent xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and black Africans by the natives because the South African Police in the last decade and half has failed to stop these killings and prosecute the perpetrators.

The National Coordinator of HURIWA Emmanuel Onwubiko said yesterday in a statement that apart from the international mechanisms to check the violence against Nigerians and Africans, the Nigerian government needs to adopt a number of measures including downgrading the diplomatic relationship with South Africa and to severe trade exchanges to demonstrate Nigerian government’s sensitivity to the wellbeing of Nigerians living in South Africa and who are on the frontline of the xenophobic attacks over the last 17 years.

"HURIWA also think the docility of the ordinary Nigerians in Nigeria in the face of the frequent xenophobic attacks directed at Nigerians in South Africa is disheartening. We asked Nigerians to organize themselves in Abuja and Lagos and proceed on peaceful protests to the High Commission of the Republic of South Africa in those cities and consider boycotting South African telecommunications and satellite television services until the South African government put an end to these killings," Onwubiko said.

He added: "We are worried that from recorded history, prior to 1994, immigrants from elsewhere faced discrimination and even violence in South Africa. After democratization in 1994, contrary to expectations, the incidence of xenophobia increased. Between 2000 and March 2008, at least 67 people died in what were identified as xenophobic attacks.

"In May 2008, a series of attacks left 62 people dead; although 21 of those killed were South African citizens. The attacks were apparently motivated by xenophobia. In 2015, another nationwide spike in xenophobic attacks against immigrants in general prompted a number of foreign governments to begin repatriating their citizens."