Reps seek comprehensive audit of Nigerians’ losses in South Africa xenophobic violence

Background Tuesday’s resolution comes barely two weeks after the House of Representatives strongly condemned another wave of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa and urged the federal government to intensify diplomatic engagement with Pretoria while rejecting calls by some lawmakers to immediately suspend diplomatic relations between the two countries.“Notwithstanding this historic relationship, Nigerians residing lawfully in the Republic of South Africa have, for nearly two decades, remained recurrent targets of xenophobic violence characterised by killings, mob attacks, physical assaults, arson, looting of businesses, destruction of properties, forced displacement, intimidation and hate campaigns principally directed at African migrants,” he said.

The House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to investigate the human and economic losses suffered by Nigerians in repeated xenophobic attacks in the Republic of South Africa, citing years of killings, destruction of businesses, forced displacement and growing anti-foreigner campaigns targeting African migrants.