The Nigeria Union in South Africa has stressed the urgent need for the Nigerian Federal Government to protect its citizens in that country. This follows another dangerous attack on Nigerians and their properties in Cape Town.
Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, the union president, made the call in a telephone interview from Pretoria, South Africa, on Wednesday, according to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN.
He said the attack took place at Du-Noon, a suburb of Cape Town on Monday.
According to him, the union received reports that there was a demonstration by some South Africans over poor service delivery by their government, which later turned violent and degenerated to attacks on Nigerians and some other Africans, with their property being looted and destroyed.
“During the protest, it turned violent; they started attacking homes and shops owned by foreigners.
“Nigerians, Somalis and Kenyans were attacked and their homes and shops looted.”
According to Anyene, a Nigerian, Tunde Salami, sustained serious head injury and was subsequently hospitalised while others with minor injuries had been treated and discharged.
He said that the property destroyed included building materials, cosmetics, saloon shops, cell phones and accessories, cooking utensils and foodstuffs.
According to him, 33 Nigerian shops were affected in the violent protest.
Anyene expressed sadness that the police officers who were said to have accompanied the protesters, failed to prevent the looting and destruction of property which belongings to foreigners.
He said that the union had lodged a formal report of the incident to the Nigerian Consulate and would soon visit Cape Town to assess the situation of things.
Meanwhile, a source close to the Nigerian Consulate, confirmed to NAN that the report had been received.
