For years, Nigerians have been losing their brothers, sisters, and friends to Xenophobia in South Africa. More than 120 Nigerians have lost their lives to gruesome killings in South Africa since 2016. The various moves of the Nigerian government appear to have yielded no result as South African citizens continue to make their country a dangerous place for Nigerians and other foreigners.
South Africans involved in these xenophobic attacks defend their actions by claiming that foreigners are either taking the jobs meant for them or bringing corruption to their country. The Nigerian presidency’s appeals to the South African government, asking them to step in and put a stop to these attacks apparently remains futile.
Here is another video of a senator condemning xenophobic attacks against Nigerian’s in South Africa:
While Nigerians yet mourned the murder of four Nigerians in March, yet another xenophobic attack strikes. The latest victims are Bonny Iwuoha and Goziem Akpenyi, both Nigerians were stabbed to death in Cape Town and Johannesburg on April 6th and 5th respectively.
Confirmation of this sad news came from the Assistant Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Union in South Africa(NUSA), Odefa Ikele. Ikele said that “Mr. Bonny Iwuoha, 48, from Ihitte/Uboma in Imo state, was stabbed to death at about 11:45 pm on April 6, 2019, in Johannesburg, South Africa.” It was gathered that “his assailants followed him from 152 Hay Street Turffontein, and thereafter stabbed and killed him in front of his gate at Turf Road, Turffontein.” Mr. Izochukwu Nwokocha is the name of the man who witnessed the killing.
The other Nigerian, Goziem Akpenyi, was also killed in a similar manner. “Akpenyi was allegedly stabbed to death by three unknown colored South African men after an argument with the deceased,” Ikele said.
To put an end to these incessant xenophobic killings, the perpetrators must be brought to book. Akele urges the Nigerian government to do more “…the killings have to be investigated and the culprits prosecuted,” he implored.
