Xenophobic Attacks: FG Tells South Africa ‘We Can’t Stand By and Watch Nigerians Humiliated’
Xenophobic — Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has declared that the Federal Government will not fold its arms while Nigerians residing in South Africa face what she described as systematic harassment, humiliation, and targeted attacks amid rising anti-foreigner tensions in the country.
The minister made this known during a telephone conversation with Ronald Lamola, PulseNets learnt from a statement shared on her official Facebook page on Wednesday.
According to the statement obtained by PulseNets, the Nigerian government has now prioritised the evacuation of citizens willing to return home from South Africa following renewed xenophobic tensions and anti-migrant protests.
PulseNets reported that Bianca further disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has directed Nigerian Missions in South Africa to immediately establish a Crisis Notification Unit for distressed and endangered Nigerians.
The statement read, “This morning, I had a phone conversation with Hon Ronald Lamola, South Africa Foreign Affairs Minister who expressed concern and misgivings concerning the plans by the government of Nigeria to evacuate its citizens desirous of leaving the Republic of South Africa due to the recent xenophobic attacks and anti-foreigner sentiments openly expressed during continuing anti-migrant protests in South Africa, the latest of which took place in Durban, South Africa, yesterday 6th May 2026.
“I maintained that our Government cannot stand by and watch the systematic harassment and humiliation of our nationals resident in SA as well as the extra-judicial killings of our people, and that the evacuation of our citizens who want to return home remains our Government’s priority at this time.
“I also highlighted the need for their police and justice systems to take the cases on ground of extra-judicial killings of Nigerians in South Africa more seriously and that there should be clear and immediate consequences for such acts.”
PulseNets learnt that although Wednesday’s anti-migrant protest in Durban reportedly witnessed heavy security deployment and no recorded violence, Nigerians were advised by the Nigerian Mission to remain indoors and temporarily shut down their businesses for safety reasons.
The statement further noted, “Our discussions also centered on the violent and indiscriminate rhetoric and actions of South Africa’s anti-foreigner political parties which puts the lives and properties of Nigerian and other nationals at risk, but which conversely might also have the effect jeopardizing the safety of South African interests in Nigeria.
“Nigerians have exercised, and continue to demonstrate commendable restraint, in their response to the ongoing crisis.
“I also brought to his attention, having engaged with some of our Nationals resident with their families in South Africa, the unfortunate fact that Nigerian Children as well as children born of both Nigerian and South African parents (referred to as ‘Sougerians’) are being wrongfully bullied in schools and taunted to ‘return to their country’.
“This is reprehensible and capable of causing trauma to young minds for whom such incidents may remain etched in memory.”
Also Read: Xenophobic: Ghana Protest Erupts as Youth Group Calls for Nigerians’ Deportation in Accra
Responding during the discussion, Lamola reportedly assured Nigerian authorities that the South African government recognises its responsibility to safeguard innocent children and vulnerable residents affected by the crisis.
He stated that South African authorities are “doing their utmost through education supervisory bodies to discourage these practices”.
