Nigerian Envoy Rules Out Evacuation Of Citizens Over Xenophobic Attacks

The Nigerian Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Mr Martin Cobham, has ruled out the immediate evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa over xenophobic attacks.

According to him, it was a bit too early to consider the option of evacuation of Nigerians.

However, Cobham said there was the need for calm.

“I will not want to subscribe to an immediate evacuation. We want to look at this thing on three phases – the lower threat, middle threat and the higher threat.

“We can only tell our people; for now, abide by the hosts laws, avoid areas of imminent clashes and violence and work in concert with local authorities to ensure that peace reign,” Mr Cobham said.

The Nigerian envoy said that some social media messages making the rounds were false alarming bells and mischievous.

“Some of these photographs and videos were occurrences that happened in the DRC or even Rwanda and they are now replicated to foment trouble, linking it to xenophobia,” he explained.

The xenophobic attacks in South Africa KwaZulu-Natal province have continued, despite worldwide outrage and efforts by the country’s leaders to calm the situation.