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• 1 killed, 4 others injured
Nigeria’s High Commission in South Africa yesterday registered its displeasure and protested to the country’s Foreign Affairs Ministry after a Nigerian was killed and four others injured in Polokwane, Limpopo Province.
The Nigeria High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Martins Cobham confirmed that a Nigerian was killed and four others hospitalised during a mob attack on foreigners yesterday, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported.
“I can confirm that a Nigerian, Razak Ajao, an auto mechanic was killed and four others injured during a mob attack against foreigners in Polokwane, Limpopo Province of South Africa today (yesterday).
“The Nigerian mission has formally registered a protest to the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs on this sad incident. The ministry said they would get back to the mission and that is the situation we are now. The mission has also reported the attacks to the South African police.
“Meanwhile, the mission is meeting with officials of Nigeria Union on the incident to decide on the next line of action. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep you informed”, he said.
Cobham said two of the injured Nigerians were treated and discharged while others were still receiving treatment in the hospital. NAN quoted Ralph Nwachukwu, a Nigerian in South Africa, as saying that one Yoruba and one Igbo were killed during the attack which took place in Polokwane yesterday.
NAN said though Nwachukwu could not give the names of the victims, he said the attack started when Nigerians living in that area were holding a meeting. “They held a meeting on Tuesday and today (yesterday) was supposed to be a follow up.
“It was at the peak of the meeting that the South African Taxi Drivers swooped on them. They accused Nigerians of peddling drugs and began to attack them with dangerous weapons that led to the death of two while many others were seriously injured”, he said.
