President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reportedly refused to meet a special envoy sent by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa amid renewed outrage over alleged xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
According to a Daily Sun report, the South African delegation, headed by the country’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, arrived in Abuja on Friday, July 24, to deliver what was described as an important message to the Nigerian president.
The reported rejection came shortly after the alleged killing of a Nigerian citizen, Chika Ibe, in Cape Town. Reports claimed he was taken from his residence at the Parksig Villas Complex in Bellville and tortured to death by officers of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Nigeria has repeatedly condemned xenophobic violence in South Africa and maintained a strong position against attacks on its citizens.
At the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Lungi, Sierra Leone, Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Tinubu, denounced the recurring attacks and stated that Nigeria would advocate for stronger action against xenophobia at the African Union.
Shettima called for a united African response to protect the rights and dignity of Africans living in other countries across the continent.
He also revealed that Nigeria had previously evacuated 1,490 citizens affected by earlier waves of xenophobic violence and reiterated the country’s commitment to working with regional and continental bodies to tackle the issue.
