By Dennis Okosun
The attack on Nigerians in South Africa has taken a new dimension as the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) gives 48 hours to all South African companies in Nigeria to relocate over the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians.
The students gave the ultimatum during a peaceful demonstration at some South African companies in Abuja on Thursday.
Displaying banners with different inscription: ‘’NANS against Xenophobic Attacks on Nigerians,’’ marched through the streets, besieging South African owed companies, like DSTV during the peace protest.
The President of NANS, Mr Kadiri Aruna, at the DSTV office, located at Wuse 2, Abuja, warned that they will no longer tolerate a situation that Nigerians in their country are always targeted anytime they embark on xenophobic attacks on foreigners.
‘We are saying that enough is enough as South Africans have openly attacked and bullied Nigerians. After 48 hours, if nothing was done, messages would be sent to students in all university campuses to bring down MTN masts all over the country.
Aruna said that DSTV, MTN and Shoprite would also be affected as the union had put adequate strategies in place to make the action effective.
“All the South African business empires in Nigeria and their collaborators in Nigeria will be affected.”
“I don’t want to say we will be barbaric but we will law gym in our actions, we will do it and face the consequences, enough of this rubbish,’’ he said.
Aruna explained that during the apartheid regime in South Africa, Nigerians played a dominant role at ensuring their emancipation. It is amazing that the same people we fought for their freedom are attacking our citizens.
“Nigeria contributed 80 per cent of the freedom the South Africans are enjoying today because we saved them from the jaws of apartheid. Who is South Africa to humiliate Nigerians? He asked.
The NANS leadership also sent a note of warning to the federal government not to wait till the expiration of the 48hours ultimatum before evacuating Nigerians from the country.
Meanwhile the federal government through the foreign affairs minister has called on the South African authority to compensate Nigerians that lost their investment and businesses during the attacks.