Ambassador (Mrs) Uche J Ajulu Okeke: Consular-general

Nigeria’s foreign ministry has recalled the country’s ambassador to South Africa, for briefing, in the wake of attacks on Africans by South African blacks.

Acting High Commissioner Martin Cobham and Deputy High Commissioner Uche Ajulu-Okeke, the consul-general, are expected to arrive with a list of demands by Nigerian residents, affected by the xenophobic attacks.

Ambassador Aminu Wali, Nigeria Minister of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the envoys have been summoned for consultation.

The statement read, “The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, has summoned for consultation, Nigeria’s senior diplomats on tour of duty in South Africa. These are the Acting High Commissioner in Pretoria, Ambassador Martin Cobham, and the Deputy High Commissioner in Johannesburg, Ambassador Uche Ajulu-Okeke.

“The invitation is in connection with the ongoing xenophobia in South Africa targeting foreigners, mainly African migrants”.

The Nigerian Union in South Africa said on Saturday that Nigerians lost more than 4.6 million Rand (N84 million) to xenophobic attacks .

The President of Nigerian Union in South Africa, Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on phone from Pretoria, South Africa, that the losses were initially put at 1.2 million Rand ( N21 million).

‘’ The Nigerian Union in South Africa has completed documentation of the losses suffered by Nigerians to xenophobic attacks.

‘’ Nigerians lost more than 4.6 million Rand or N84 million during the attacks.

’ A mechanic workshop owned by a Nigerian in Jeppes, near Johannesburg, for example was completely burnt with 11 cars inside it.

“ The loss is put at more than one million Rand or N20 million,’’ he said.

Anyene said the Union had compiled the losses and given the list to Nigeria’s Consul-General to South Africa.

He said Nigerian victims of the attacks needed urgent assistance to re-settle because many had lost their means of livelihood.

‘’ The Consul-General has travelled to Nigeria and we appeal to the Federal Government to do something urgent to assist Nigerians affected by the attacks.

‘’ We have made representations to the Federal government .

“ We are also hoping that working with the South African government, there will be a way to compensate the affected Nigerians so as to enable them go back to their normal lives.

‘’ The tension is less now. The South African government has come out in full force to check the attacks,’’ he said.

Anyene said the losses suffered by Nigerians were in the form of vandalised mechanic workshops, burnt mechanic workshops, looted shops as well as stolen and burnt cars.

‘’ More than 50 Nigerians were displaced during the attacks. The Union has assisted them to return home.

‘’ The Union is also planning to assist a family to move to a new accommodation because the present home is not safe,’’ he said.

He said the Union carried out a proper documentation of the attacks, with pictures and other relevant documents stored to capture the incidents.

*Updated with the right names of the envoys