Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Federal Government has disclosed that three Nigerians were shot and killed between November 14 and 17, in South Africa.
The Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg, in a statement issued on Friday, said the killings of Nigerians in the rainbow nation was as a result of intra-community violence that has not been adequately managed.
“The Consulate General of Nigeria is saddened by the latest reports of killings of Nigerians in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
“Preliminary accounts indicate that three Nigerians were shot and killed between 14th and 17th November, 2022, due to intra-community violence that has not been adequately managed. This is a source of grave concern to the Mission and well-meaning Nigerians,” it said.
The Mission, however, appealed for calm and restraint, adding that efforts were being made by the High Commission, Consulate General and South African authorities to curb the violence.
It also called on religious,traditional and community leaders to bring their spiritual and moral authority to bear on current efforts towards amicable resolution of the issues.
While commiserating with families of victims of the latest killings, the Consulate General appealed to members of the Nigerian community in Durban to eschew violence and any action that could lead to a degeneration of the current situation.
It also urged the community to be law-abiding and refer all disputes to relevant law-enforcement agencies for assistance.
