Xenophobic attacks: South African police pledge protection

Pretoria – The Nigeria Union in South Africa said on Wednesday that the police in that country had pledged to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals from  xenophobic attacks.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the pledge followed the recent xenophobic attacks 

against foreigners in Steinkopf , Northern Cape Province. The President of the Union, Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, told NANin Pretoria, South Africa, that the Provincial Police Commander in the area gave the assurance.

Anyene quoted the commander as saying that policemen had been deployed from neighbouring towns to reinforce those in the affected area while the situation had been brought under control.

He said that Nigerians in the affected area had confirmed that units of the South African police had been deployed in Steinkopf.

‘’ Nigerians in the affected area, however, are still apprehensive that more xenophobic attacks could take place because of credible information at their disposal,’’ Anyene said.

He said that Nigerians affected by the recent attacks were still displaced and taking refuge in the neighbouring town of Springbok.

Anyene said that the Union was in touch with the Nigerian Mission in South Africa on developments in the affected town.

He also said that the Union was monitoring the situation and had advised Nigerians to take precautionary measures to ensure their safety. (NAN)