Protesters storm Lagos Assembly over killing of Nigerians in South Africa

Some protesters on Tuesday stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly to express their displeasure over the killing of Nigerians in South Africa.

News Agency of Nigeria reports that the protesters stormed the gate of the assembly at about 6p.m.

The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions: “Stop the killing of innocent Nigerians in South Africa;” “MTN Nigeria, DSTV, Shoprite will not operate until the killings are stopped,” etc.

NAN reports that the violence gathered momentum on Sunday when a protest march against drug dealing by local residents at the centre of Johannesburg was blamed on immigrants and later degenerated into violence, with shops being attacked and looted.

The violence spread to the nearby city of Pretoria, where mobs attacked immigrant traders, workers and shopkeepers on Monday.

South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, condemned the violence on Tuesday and promised to discuss with ministers having responsibility for security.

The leader of the Lagos Assembly protesters, Allwell Ademola, said they had visited the Assembly to express their grievances over the “gruesome killings of innocent Nigerians in South Africa.”

Ademola, a popular Yoruba actress, urged the House of Assembly to come to the aid of Nigerians living in South Africa by stopping the killings.

While addressing the protesters, Mr Rotimi Olowo, representing Shomolu Constituency I, urged the protesters not to engage in destroying property owned by South Africans in Nigeria.

“We have thousands of Nigerians working in DSTV, MTN and some other South Africa companies, so if you destroy their property, it will surely affect the livelihoods of these Nigerians working for them.

“Let us follow due process in resolving this issue because we cannot use violence to resolve violence,” he said.

On his part, Mr. Temitope Adewale, representing Ifako Ijaye I, appealed to the protesters not to take laws into their hands, promising that the House would take urgent steps on the issue.

-NAN