The African Union should intervene urgently to end xenophobic attacks in South Africa on Nigerians and other Africans, a presidential adviser in Nigeria, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has said.
Her statement came after Nigerians in South Africa reported that five of their businesses and a church were set ablaze in the capital, Pretoria, on Saturday.
Ms Dabiri-Erewa, an adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on affairs and the diaspora, said it seemed that the South African government had “no control over these attacks”.
“We have lost about 116 Nigerians [in attacks in South Africa] in the last two years. And in 2016 alone, about 20 were killed. This is unacceptable to the people and Government of Nigeria,” she added.
South African police said that six people had been arrested over Saturday’s violence, and would appear in court soon.
Local media reported that suspected prostitution and drug dens were targeted in the attacks.
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