Some indigenes of Keimoes and
Upington areas of northern cape province in South Africa, on Thursday morning,
gave Nigerians and other foreign national a 12-hour ultimatum to vacate their
communities.
Adetola Olubajo, president of
Nigeria Union in South Africa, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
Olubajo said the development was
as a result of an “ugly incident” that took place between a police officer and
a Nigerian on Wednesday.
He said the Nigerian, an indigene
of Abakaliki in Ebonyi state, allegedly stabbed to death the police officer,
Nico Visagie, during a disagreement.
Olubajo said the details of the
disagreement were still not very clear as the “major witness” was also stabbed
multiple times and was still in critical condition at the hospital.
“After the horrific incident, the
community members of Keimoes and environs went on rampage burning and
destroying properties belonging to foreign nationals, Nigerians in particular,”
he said.
“These attacks spread to Upington
and Nigerians and other foreign nationals were also expelled from Upington.
“Prompt Police intervention this
morning brought about calm but the situation is still tensed. Some locals were
arrested by the police for public disturbance and malicious damage to
properties.
“They appeared in a magistrates’
court this morning for bail hearing.”
He added that the suspect who
stabbed the police officer had been arrested and would appear in court on or
before Monday.
“We commend the swift
intervention of the members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the
arrest of the suspect is a welcome development,” he said.
“We hope the police will continue
to maintain law and order in the area.”
There was tension in August
following xenophobic attacks in South Africa and reprisals in Nigeria.
Many Nigerians were forced to
leave the country while a diplomatic face-off was prevented between Nigeria and
South Africa.
President Muhammadu Buhari had
visited the country in October and both nations renewed their diplomatic ties
while President Cyril Ramaphosa apologised to Nigerians.
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