The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has called on Nigerians residing in South Africa to exercise heightened caution and adhere strictly to official safety directives following a fresh wave of unrest targeting foreign nationals.
In a statement signed by the Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocol Unit, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the commission said the warning was prompted by a circular from the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg, which highlighted escalating anti-foreigner protests in parts of the country.
According to the statement, demonstrations in East London, Cape Town, Durban, and KwaZulu-Natal have turned violent, with incidents of looting, destruction of property, and injuries reported.
NiDCOM, citing intelligence from the consulate, disclosed that additional protests are being planned in Gauteng Province between April 27 and 29. Organisers are reportedly seeking to mount pressure on the South African government over the continued presence of foreign nationals.
The commission advised Nigerians to steer clear of protest locations, avoid confrontations, and monitor credible local media outlets for real-time updates. It also emphasised the need for Nigerians to remain law-abiding at all times.
Furthermore, NiDCOM urged Nigerian business owners to shut down operations on Freedom Day and consider extending the closure through April 28 and 29, noting that foreign-owned businesses are often primary targets during such unrest.
Reaffirming its support for the Consul-General in Johannesburg, Ninikanwa O. Okey-Uche, the commission stated that the Nigerian mission remains fully operational and is working closely with South African law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of its citizens.
It added that the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, is currently engaging her South African counterpart as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to address the situation.
