Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dalhatu Tafida, says there have been no negative reports on any Nigerian following the on-going riots in Hackney and Peckham areas of London.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that violence and looting have continued to spread on the third day to four of London’s areas, including Hackney, Peckham, Croydon and Birmingham.
The riots had kicked off after police shot Mark Duggan, a 29-year-old father in Tottenham on Saturday.
Hundreds of youths were seen attacking shops and setting fire on cars on Monday night in the areas.
“The situation is still on-going, though we have not heard any adverse reports about Nigerians especially in those two areas where we have the largest concentration of our nationals in the UK,” Mr Tafida told NAN in an interview in London.
“We are also in touch with the members of the community through their leaders to ensure that Nigerians, wherever they reside, are safe,” the envoy added.
According to the 2001 UK census, Peckham is home to the largest Nigerian community in the UK with seven percent of the population having been born in the UK.
NAN reports that many of the local establishments are Yoruba-owned, including churches and mosques.
However, the chairman of the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (CANUK), Bimbo Folayan, assured that Nigerians in Hackney and Peckham were safe.
“I can assure you that no Nigerian is affected or involved at the moment in the incidents,” he said.
“We are in touch with the community leaders in these areas and as the event keeps unfolding we will get the public informed,” he added.
Ms Folayan, however, dispelled the notion that the incident had a racial undertone.
The chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), UK chapter, Kayode Ogunsola, while expressing sadness at the act of vandalism and destruction, called for investigation into the incident.
“The alleged shooting by the police, which led to the riot in Tottenham, needs to be investigated and necessary action taken to ensure that fatal incidents that led to loss of lives are avoided,” he said.
“The government has called for peace and the security agencies are already taking remedial action. So, we are hopeful that the situation will soon be brought under control,” he added.
Also, Janet Ojo, a trader in Dalston market, near Hackney, said traders had to close their shops for fear of being attacked by the hoodlums.
She said the market was closed down on Saturday after police shot Duggan, and added that the situation was quite scary.
“The kids cannot go to school, because you can never tell. Anything can happen,” Mr Ojo said.
In response to the riots, the acting London Police Commissioner, Tim Godwin, said there was significant disorder breaking out in a number of communities across the city.
Mr Godwin appealed to communities to help clear the streets of people, while calling on families to ensure their children were not involved in the chaos.
NAN
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