Reaction to unabated, coward killings of Nigerians in xenophobic attacks in south Africa- FAMUYIBO ENIOBANKE OLUWASEGUN Captain

WE CRY, WE MOURN AND WE WARN: BEING A PRESS STATEMENT DELIVERED BY COM. FAMUYIBO ENIOBANKE OLUWASEGUN, IN REACTION TO UNABATED AND COWARD KILLINGS OF NIGERIANS IN XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

Captain and his crew

If we have been lenient with you, supported you, fought for you, and invested human and material resources in your freedom, we will not be asking too much to ask that you stop killing our brothers and sisters indiscriminately.

Just in three and half years, a total number of 127 Nigerians have been gruesomely murdered in xenophobic attacks in South Africa, including the recently killed CIIN Deputy Director. 

This is not only appalling, abysmal and ridiculous but very inhuman and cruel. 

These wanton killings have caused too much pain, crying and mourning among many families.

The fact that South African authorities have done little or nothing to stop these killings calls to question the relevance of our bilateral relationship and continental conviviality.

It is intrusive therefore to see the innocuous disposition of AU to this menace that will soon shatter the very fabrics of our brotherhood and union in Africa. 

We have watched this menace long enough that naturally AU should have imposed reasonable sanction on South Africa for failing to respect the African Charter on Human and People’s Right. 

It is therefore imperative to reiterate our resolve to seek for commemorate measure to end this menace.

We have refused to be dragged into acting cowardly in retaliation of the killings of our citizens not because we do not have the strength or the capacity to retaliate, man for man or woman for woman but for our resolve to support a continent free for all to live, strive and thrive we have exercised restrained even at the height of unjustifiable provocations.

We therefore warn that for every Nigerian blood shed in similar attacks in South Africa, we will mobilize our people to respond in a commemorate manner as South Africans in Nigeria and South African Establishments in Nigeria shall be made to pay in full for the stupidity and callousness of their brothers at home. 

We have tolerated their excesses long enough, tolerated their systematic corporate extortion of Nigerians through their establishments in Nigeria and we will no longer allow them kill our citizens.

We therefore call on South African authorities to ensure the killings of Nigerians in South Africa are well investigated and culprits brought to book. We also call for immediate stop of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other African citizens in South Africa. 

These conditions if not met shall spell doom for South Africans and South African establishments in Nigeria.

We call on the African Union to impose reasonable sanctions on South Africa for failing to protect lives and properties of fellow Africans on home soil.

Dare to struggle! Dare to win.

COM. Famuyibo Eniobanke Oluwasegun, Deputy Senate President, National Association Of Nigerian Students (NANS) 2014 - 2016.

famuyiboadeola@gmail.com