Dare Babalola
The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has urged the African Union (AU) to step in over renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Dabiri-Erewa made the appeal on Saturday via her X (formerly Twitter) handle, calling on Nigerians residing in the country to strictly adhere to safety advisories issued by the Nigerian mission.
She noted that diplomatic engagements were ongoing to address the situation.
“Our people in South Africa, please follow the advisory issued by the Nigerian Embassy in Johannesburg, as Amb. Bianca Ojukwu, Minister of State, #NigeriaMFA, has been engaging her counterpart in SA.
“The AU must intervene in these dastardly xenophobic attacks against blacks in South Africa,” she said.
Her remarks follow a security alert from the Nigerian Consulate General in Johannesburg, which indicated that protests in cities such as Cape Town, Durban, and parts of KwaZulu-Natal have escalated into violence, with reports of looting, destruction of property, and injuries.
NiDCOM advised Nigerians in affected areas to avoid confrontations, steer clear of protest locations, and keep track of developments through credible local media channels.
It also stressed the importance of complying with local laws during the period of unrest.
The commission further warned business owners—particularly those operating foreign-owned establishments—to take precautionary measures, noting that such enterprises are often targeted during outbreaks of xenophobic violence.
Entrepreneurs were specifically advised to suspend operations on Freedom Day on April 27, and to consider remaining closed on April 28 and 29 as a safety measure.
