Xenophobia: Presidency counters South African envoy, says Nigerians target of attacks

The presidency is not satisfied with the explanation given by the South African envoy, Bobby Monroe that Nigerians were not the targets of renewed attacks in his country

Presidential spokesperson, Mr. Femi Adesina, insists that Nigerians were part of the overall targets

Adesina says the Nigerian government will continue to insist that its citizens are protected in other countries.

According to the Presidency, the South African envoy, Bobby Monroe, may not have spoken the truth when he explained that Nigerians are not the targets of the renewed xenophobic attacks by his country’s citizens, the presidency has said.

Speaking on Channels Television, Adesina said he did not agree with the submission of Monroe that the attacks were only ‘sporadic acts of violence’.

“I disagree with the South African ambassador who says it is sporadic attacks…it’s not. If it was sporadic attacks, why were South Africans not attacked?

“It was targeted at foreigners, Nigerians particularly,” Adesina was quoted to have said, while noting, however, that the attacks were not solely targeted at Nigerians.

He said that the Nigerian government will be forced to take stronger measures should its efforts to push for the protection of its citizens fail.

“President Ramaphosa was here some months back and we clearly heard him when he said not all the violence was between South African against Nigerians that most of the times, it was Nigerians against Nigerians.

“But what has happened these past few days has shown that this is not Nigerians against Nigerians.

“This is clearly South African against Nigerians and this has shown us that there is xenophobia,” he explained.