The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has expressed concern over what it described as worsening xenophobic attacks in South Africa, warning that Nigerians are increasingly exposed to danger.
In a statement, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, called on South African authorities to take urgent steps to halt the violence and safeguard affected foreign nationals.
She lamented that previous diplomatic engagements between Nigeria and South Africa had yet to bring about the expected calm.
“While many expected tensions to ease following earlier engagements between both governments, the situation on the ground is deteriorating,” she said.
The commission noted that recent reports indicated that Nigerians in the country were now living in fear, with their daily activities significantly disrupted.
“Reports reaching the Commission show that pupils of Nigerian descent are afraid to attend school, while genuine business owners now hesitate to open their shops due to fear of attacks, looting, and harassment,” the statement read.
NiDCOM also revealed that fresh incidents of violence and intimidation had been recorded within the last 72 hours, describing the trend as troubling.
The agency condemned the stereotyping of Nigerians, insisting that criminal acts should not be attributed to nationality.
“We reject the profiling and generalisation of Nigerians. Crime has no nationality,” it stated, urging authorities to prosecute offenders without resorting to collective punishment.
The commission called for increased police presence in affected areas, swift prosecution of culprits, and the establishment of a joint safety forum between Nigeria and South Africa to address the crisis.
It also urged the South African government to openly denounce xenophobia, while advising Nigerians to remain law-abiding and avoid high-risk locations.
Despite assurances from Nigeria’s acting High Commissioner in South Africa that Nigerians were not under siege, NiDCOM said it remained in close contact with relevant diplomatic missions to monitor developments.
The commission added that while many South Africans continue to coexist peacefully with foreigners, there was a need for sustained efforts to protect lives and uphold human dignity.
