Nigeria to South Africa: Enough is Enough

Some burnt auto shops belonging to Nigerians in Johannesburg

The Nigerian government has reacted to reports that South African mobs are attacking Nigerians, burning their properties and even killing and maiming, in a fresh burst of xenophobia.

Geoffrey Onyeama, Nigeria’s foreign minister tweeted Nigeria’s exasperation to the ‘sickening and depressing news’ of attacks against Nigerian citizens.

Onyeama, who is not given to banging the table told the South African government: “Enough is Enough’ and promised that Nigerians will take ‘definitive measures’.

He did not however indicate what measures the country would pursue to protect Nigerians in South Africa.

The xenophobia raging in South Africa was discussed between President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigeria’s President Buhari on the sideline of the TICAD 7 meeting in Yokohama in Japan last week. President Buhari is scheduled to visit South Africa in October.


In a fresh report of xenophobic rage, South Africans attacked, looted and burnt businesses and properties belonging to foreigners.

Three Nigerians were also reportedly killed, while another is still receiving treatment for smoke inhalation.

The President of the Nigeria Union South Africa (NUSA), Adetola Olubajo said that the attacks began on Sunday morning in Jeppestown area of Johannesburg when a building was set ablaze by a mob.

“The mob also looted several shops that were around the vicinity suspected to be owned by foreign nationals.

“But the Police later dispersed the mob and made some arrest,’’ he said in a statement.

“Late in the evening of Sunday, Sept. 1, a group of violent locals suspected to be Zulu hostel dwellers besieged Jules Street in Malvern, Johannesburg looted and burned shops/businesses.’’

According to witnesses living on Jules street, the Zulu hostel dwellers were very organised and well-coordinated in looting and burning of any shops/businesses suspected to be owned by foreign nationals.

Olubajo said that information gathered by members of NUSA in Malvern area, indicated that over 50 shops/businesses were destroyed, looted and burnt over the night.