Enugu Hots up as Youths protest South-Africans attacks on foreigners

Hundreds of youths took to the streets of Enugu on Tuesday to protest xenophobic

attacks targeted at Nigerians and other African nationals by South Africans.

They demanded an end to the attacks within 48 hours, failing which South African investments in Enugu State and other parts of Nigeria would be destroyed.

The youths, under the aegis of Youth Action for Success, carried placards with various inscriptions, including ‘No to mindless killing of Nigerians!’, ‘Stop this xenophobia now!’, ‘Don’t tempt our patience’, among others.

Speaking to journalists during the rally, the leader of the group, Jesechai Okezie, expressed regrets that South Africans have not been grateful for the hospitality of other Africans.

He said, “We are not happy that Nigerians are being brutalized and killed in South Africa.

“We allowed South Africans to come here and operate – they have Shoprite, Multichoice, MTN and a host of other investments here.

“So why are they killing us? Why are they brutalizing us? Why are they denying us our economic rights?

“We love other nationals here in Nigeria, we treat them with the highest level of hospitality, but this is what we have got in return.”

Demanding an immediate end to the attacks, Okeke said, “This killings must stop forthwith.

“We are giving the South African government 48 hours to ensure that this killings and looting come to and end.

“The President of South Africa must assure the world that the lives and properties of Nigerians are safe – if they don’t do that, we are going to react and our reaction will be disastrous.

“We are asking Nigerian youths to remain calm.”

They also demanded that “President Goodluck Jonathan and the President-Elect, Muhammadu Buhari” must address Nigerian youths on the matter.

“If we move to the streets, it will be a moving train – nobody will stop us,” the irate youths warned.