The Nigeria Foreign Affairs Ministry has clarified that no Nigerian has been killed directly by the ongoing Afrophobia or Xenophobic protesters in South Africa, despite the deaths of four Nigerians in the country in recent months, insisting that none of the fatalities was directly connected to the anti-foreigner protests.
Speaking on Wednesday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, disclosed that the investigations by the Nigerian High Commission showed that the recent deaths occurred under different circumstances and should not be directly attributed to the protesters.
“It’s good to put on record that no Nigerian has been killed by the protesters. We witness unpleasant, very disturbing videos whereby fellow Africans have been killed by mob action in South Africa, but no Nigerian has been killed by the protesting South Africans. However, we witnessed the death of four Nigerians,” he clarified.
Ebienfa further explained that three of the deaths were connected to the South African police, while another Nigerian was allegedly killed by criminal elements.
“Two were killed by South African police during interrogation, because they carried out very gruesome interrogation techniques that led to the death of two Nigerians while in police custody. One was seriously brutalized, released from police detention, but later died in a hospital. Then, I think the latest one is a Nigerian, fondly called Bijo, that was killed in front of a shop.”
While stressing that the deaths were tragic and unacceptable, the Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman maintained that they were distinct from the ongoing anti-foreigner demonstrations.
“But those deaths, were not attributed to the protests, they were carried out, one by unknown criminal gang, then the three others have police connections that led to their death.” he added.
Responding to questions on whether the ministry’s position meant the ongoing protests had been peaceful despite widespread reports of looting and attacks on foreigners, the ministry spokesman said that the distinction lay in the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Nigerians.
“What you need to understand is this, the point I’m trying to make is that we have witnessed the direct killing of nationals of some countries by the protesters. In the protest of looting their shops, maybe they tried to stop them and they have confrontation with them, mass beatings as the case may be resorted to death penalty. But that has not been the case of Nigerians in South Africa.” he reaffirmed.
Ebienfa reiterated that Nigerians had nevertheless suffered fatalities through police actions and criminal attacks, which the Federal Government continues to monitor closely.
“That is the point I’m trying to make. However, Nigerians have been killed while in police custody. Nigerians have been killed by criminal like the shoot and run on the scenario for the case of the Bijo that I referred to. But that is different from the protesters that are moving around with their spears and machetes directly attacking a national and killing him on the spot. That is the difference I’m trying to make.” he said.
NO NIGERIAN KILLED DIRECTLY BY XENOPHOBIC PROTESTERS IN SOUTH AFRICA — FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTRY
The Nigeria Foreign Affairs Ministry has clarified that no Nigerian has been killed directly by the ongoing Afrophobia or Xenophobic protesters in South Africa, despite the deaths of four Nigerians in the country in recent months, insisting that none of the fatalities was directly connected to the anti-foreigner protests.
Speaking on Wednesday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, disclosed that the investigations by the Nigerian High Commission showed that the recent deaths occurred under different circumstances and should not be directly attributed to the protesters.
“It’s good to put on record that no Nigerian has been killed by the protesters. We witness unpleasant, very disturbing videos whereby fellow Africans have been killed by mob action in South Africa, but no Nigerian has been killed by the protesting South Africans. However, we witnessed the death of four Nigerians,” he clarified.
Ebienfa further explained that three of the deaths were connected to the South African police, while another Nigerian was allegedly killed by criminal elements.
“Two were killed by South African police during interrogation, because they carried out very gruesome interrogation techniques that led to the death of two Nigerians while in police custody. One was seriously brutalized, released from police detention, but later died in a hospital. Then, I think the latest one is a Nigerian, fondly called Bijo, that was killed in front of a shop.”
While stressing that the deaths were tragic and unacceptable, the Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman maintained that they were distinct from the ongoing anti-foreigner demonstrations.
“But those deaths, were not attributed to the protests, they were carried out, one by unknown criminal gang, then the three others have police connections that led to their death.” he added.
Responding to questions on whether the ministry’s position meant the ongoing protests had been peaceful despite widespread reports of looting and attacks on foreigners, the ministry spokesman said that the distinction lay in the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Nigerians.
“What you need to understand is this, the point I’m trying to make is that we have witnessed the direct killing of nationals of some countries by the protesters. In the protest of looting their shops, maybe they tried to stop them and they have confrontation with them, mass beatings as the case may be resorted to death penalty. But that has not been the case of Nigerians in South Africa.” he reaffirmed.
Ebienfa reiterated that Nigerians had nevertheless suffered fatalities through police actions and criminal attacks, which the Federal Government continues to monitor closely.
“That is the point I’m trying to make. However, Nigerians have been killed while in police custody. Nigerians have been killed by criminal like the shoot and run on the scenario for the case of the Bijo that I referred to. But that is different from the protesters that are moving around with their spears and machetes directly attacking a national and killing him on the spot. That is the difference I’m trying to make.” he said.
