Nigerians killing Nigerians in South Africa – FG

She said reports on Nigerians killed in South Africa recently indicated that they were killed by fellow Nigerians, unlike the past when South Africans were killing Nigerians.

Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja

The Federal Government has faulted Mr Femi Falana’s submission that both the Nigerian government and its South African counterpart failed to prevent the killing of Nigerians in South Africa.

READ ALSO: Falana puts number of Nigerians killed in South Africa at 121

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, yesterday, said the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari changed the previous situation.

She said reports on Nigerians killed in South Africa recently indicated that they were killed by fellow Nigerians, unlike the past when South Africans were killing Nigerians.

Falana, who spoke on Sunday, following the death of Chibuzo Nwankwo, an indigene of Enugu state, said in the past one and half years, 121 Nigerians have been killed in South Africa, without the governments of Nigeria and South Africa doing anything about the killings.

Falana said both governments deliberately refused to put a stop to the xenophobic attacks unleashed on immigrants from African countries by the people of South Africa.

But, Dabiri, in a WhatsApp message sent to Daily Sun, said, “Don’t forget this latest killing is by a Nigerian.

“The last three killings have been Nigerians killing Nigerians, some, quite worrisome and a more dangerous trend. Six policemen involved in the killing of Nigerians, over the years, have recently been arraigned in court, and the Nigerian Embassy is closely monitoring the cases in court.

“The Nigerian government will continue to demand justice for killings, but, this element of Nigerians killing fellow Nigerians in another country will only complicate matters.”

Dabiri further said: “This is the first time policemen would be arraigned for killings which is as a result of President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s persistent intervention on the matter. The Nigerian involved in this killing has been arrested,” she concluded.