From Priscilla Ofunre, Ado-Ekiti
As part of efforts to stop xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa, a group of Nigerian youths have warned the South African government against paying lip service to the arrest and prosecution of those carrying out the attacks.
The youth, under the auspices of Nigerian Youth Parliament, condemned the killings and brutal attacks of Nigerian citizens by xenophobes, saying such barbarism shouldn’t occur in a modern world.
They issued 24 hours to the South African government to stop the senseless killings or face more vicious reprisal attacks from Nigerian youths.
In a statement signed by one of the representatives from Ekiti State, Hon. Olatunde Ajirotutu, in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday, said any attack on Nigerians will be meted with more ferocious attacks from Nigerian youths.
Ajirotutu called on the National Assembly and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other global bodies to wade into the matter to prevent full blown war between the two high ranking nations.
He said it was wrong for the South Africans to have forgotten the epic roles played by Nigerians during the apartheid period, saying this action could threaten the cord of relationhips among black nations, if not checked.
“This attacks were inhuman, disheartening and preposterous. Businesses owned by Nigerians are detroyed, vehicles were burnt and a lot more. Nigerians now live in fear despite carring out their lawful businesses. They are killed and roasted alive .This is not acceptable.
“The Lebanese dominate some parts of Lekki in Lagos, they are not attacked. Ghanaians dominated Nigerian economy at a time and there was no discrimination.
“It is highly pathetic that Nigerians who played vital roles in condemning apartheid policy in South Africa, and who donated over 61 million dollars to the country and other nations to fight the menace now have their businesses attacked”.
The parliament condemned the South African government for keeping mute despite the vicious attacks on the Nigerian citizens.
“We cannot keep watching our brothers being killed by South Africans. We now issue 24 hours ultimatum to the government to stop this barbarism, because we don’t deserve such from a country we have helped so well in the past and now”.