The Federal Government has chided South Africa over the Xenophobic attacks and killing of Nigerians in their country.
Speaking during an engagement with the South African envoy sent by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday, the Nigerian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, expressed disappointment with the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other African migrants.
Enikanolaiye held that the fact that some of the Nigerians living in South Africa were suspected of criminal activities does not justify killing them.
The Minister maintained that there are laid down rules and regulations that define the steps to be taken in such situation.
‘If they were criminals as you alluded, we reiterate that the solution is not to kill them.
‘We are country governed by rules of law. If someone is, quote and unquote, criminal for drug trafficking, there are rules and regulations- get them arrest, prosecuted, and jailed.
‘The Nigerian government will not support drug peddlers.
‘What we are saying is treat them in accordance with your constitution, in accordance with the international human rights instruments, in accordance with the minimum requirement of humanity.’ He said,
Enikanolaiye further recounted cases of Nigerians who assaulted by mobs in South Africa under the watchful eyes of the police despite being in the country legally without any criminal act.
This, according to the minister, raise concerns over state responsibility and issues of complicity by the South African government.
‘Xenophobic Attack has gone beyond attack on criminals. We have records of Nigerians who have legitimate papers to remain in South Africa. Yet, they have been attacked.
‘And we could see some mob actions which we saw the police watching as if they are helpless to address this situation.
‘This to us raises issues of state responsibility. It raises issues of complicity.’ He said.
Enikanolaiye further lamented the looting and vandalisation of Nigerian businesses in South Africa as he narrated busting into tears when receiving the first batch of the returnees.
‘I recalled receiving the first batch. I shed tears at the plane.
‘They were returning home almost with nothing. Some of their properties have been looted. Some of them have been destroyed.
‘I don’t think that is the way we want to conduct relations in Africa.’ He said.
In response, the South African Special Envoy and International Relations Minister, Ronald Lamola, who led the delegate said the Ramaphosa-led government was firmly opposed to xenophobia, racism and discrimination.
Lamola also disclosed the South African President’s effort in addressing illegal migration in the country.
‘President Ramaphosa and the government elites have been outspoken against any intolerance including xenophobia, racism, homophobia, violence, discrimination, directed at individuals within our borders.
‘President Ramaphosa has also been very firm on South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce immigration laws, including to deal decisively with irregular migration and undocumented immigrants including acts of criminality that is sometimes committed within our borders.’ He said.
According to Reuters, South African vigilantes have attacked foreign nationals and looted foreign-owned shops on numerous occasions in the last few months, as many South Africans blame immigrants for problems such as crime and unemployment.
At least four people have been killed. Anti-immigrant protesters called for undocumented migrants to leave last month and marched in several South African cities.
In the course of the attacks, an estimate of 1,490 Nigerians has been evacuated from South Africa since the latest outbreak of xenophobic violence.
As Africa’s most industrialised economy, South Africa has attracted migrants from Nigeria as well as other countries including Ghana, Mozambique and Malawi.