No Nigerian was killed in South Africa, FG backtracks

- The Nigerian government on Thursday, February
24, debunked reports that some Nigerians were
killed in a xenophobic attack in South Africa
- The minister of state for foreign affairs Khadija
Abba-Ibrahim said no Nigerian live was lost in the
attacks
- She said this after a meeting with the High
Commissioner of South Africa to Nigeria

The Nigerian government on Thursday,
February 24, debunked reports that some
Nigerians were killed in a xenophobic attack in
South Africa.
Since the past week, there have been series of
reports of attacks on Nigerians by South
Africans.
The attacks, the reports said were focused on
Nigerian business owners in South Africa.
Also, Nigerian lawmakers on Tuesday, February
21, summoned the Nigerian Ambassador to
South Africa to proffer solutions and prevent
such attack on Nigerians living in South Africa.

In the same vain, the Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the
presidential adviser on foreign affairs called on
the Africa Union to intervene on the matter.
However, speaking to journalists after a meeting
with the High Commissioner of South Africa to
Nigeria, the minister of state for foreign affairs
Khadija Abba-Ibrahim said no Nigerian live was
lost in the attacks.
She said the reports that mentioned the killing
of Nigerians in the xenophobic attacks are
unsubstantiated.
“The ministry has not received the report of any death
of Nigerian in the latest incidents of attacks against
foreigners," Abba-Ibrahim said.

“The Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria is in
constant touch with the Nigerian Union in South Africa,
the Department of International Relations and
Cooperation, DIRCO of South Africa, as well as the South
African police.
“All these agencies have confirmed that no Nigerian life
was lost in the recent incident.
“The government is in touch with South African
authorities to ensure the safety of Nigerians there,” she
said.
The minister also appealed to journalists to
desist from escalating issues with unconfirmed
reports.
Also, the South Africa High Commissioner to
Nigeria said his government was on top of the
situation.
Aaron-Mnguni said, “The Minister of Foreign Affairs
of South Africa will hold a briefing with the diplomatic
community on Friday to fashion out more ways to solve
the problem.”