By Our Reporter
Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu has warned that the Nigerian government will not remain silent over the alleged harassment, humiliation, and extrajudicial killings of Nigerians in South Africa amid renewed xenophobic tensions.
In a statement posted on X on Thursday, the minister disclosed that she held a telephone conversation with South African Foreign Affairs Minister Ronald Lamola over rising anti-foreigner sentiments and recent protests targeting migrants in parts of South Africa.
According to Ojukwu, the Federal Government’s immediate concern is the evacuation of Nigerians willing to return home following fears generated by the latest anti-migrant demonstrations, including protests held in Durban on May 6.
She said Nigeria expressed serious concerns over attacks allegedly targeting Nigerians and called on South African authorities to ensure accountability for reported extra-judicial killings.
The minister stated that the government could not continue to watch the “systematic harassment and humiliation” of Nigerians living in South Africa, stressing that protecting citizens remained a priority.
Although the Durban protest did not turn violent due to heavy security deployment, she revealed that Nigerians were advised by the Nigerian mission to shut their businesses and remain indoors for safety reasons.
Ojukwu also condemned what she described as “violent and indiscriminate rhetoric” by anti-foreigner political groups in South Africa, warning that such actions could threaten both Nigerians in South Africa and South African interests in Nigeria.
She commended Nigerians for showing restraint despite the tensions, noting that the situation had not escalated into retaliatory attacks.
The minister further disclosed that Nigerian children in South Africa, including those born to mixed Nigerian-South African families — popularly referred to as “Sougerians” — were allegedly being bullied in schools and told to “return to their country.”
She described the situation as traumatic and unacceptable.
According to her, Lamola acknowledged South Africa’s responsibility to protect affected children and assured that educational authorities were working to discourage such behaviour.
Both ministers also discussed ongoing efforts to calm tensions following the condemnation of the attacks by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his administration.
Ojukwu questioned whether the attacks should more accurately be described as “Afriphobia” instead of xenophobia, arguing that black African migrants appeared to be the primary targets.
She further disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had directed Nigerian missions in South Africa to establish crisis notification centres for distressed Nigerians, while advising citizens facing threats to first contact South African security agencies.