The Nigerian High Commission South Africa, has warned Nigerians living in South Africa to be weary of a planned attack on foreign nationals.
According to a memo dated 24 August, the consular section of the embassy wrote:
“This is to advise Nigerians living in South Africa to be vigilant and exercise caution in their activities due to the recent utterances of the proponents of the Operation Dudula and their threats to attack foreign nationals in this country.”
Based on the content of the memo, the group (Operation Dudula) via public notice and video clips circulating on social media announced an attack against foreigners in South Africa starting from the 2nd of September, 2022.
The planned attack according to the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa is targeted at foreign business owners, shops and undocumented foreign nationals.
Clariform recalls that violent attacks on Nigerians and other Africans have continued to spring up in South Africa majorly because some citizens of the country accuse foreigners of dealing on drugs or taking their jobs.
In 2019, at least 10 deaths were recorded which involved two foreigners and many foreign businesses were vandalized and destroyed resulting in Nigeria recalling its ambassador while President Muhammadu Buhari sent a special envoy to South Africa.
However, the South African government who blamed the attacks on criminals later came out to say that some of it was being driven by xenophobia.
Recall that these repeated attacks led Nigeria to boycott the World Economic Forum which held in South Africa in which Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was billed to attend.
When our reporter tried to contact the South African High Commission in Nigeria for a response but we couldn’t get any response at the time of this report.
