Nigerians protest over attacks

2008-05-31 14:04

Lagos - A group of Nigerians have staged a peaceful protest outside the South African High Commission in Lagos against attacks on their compatriots resident in that country, witnesses said.

The protesters, made up mostly of members of civil society groups, staged the protest on Friday outside the deputy high commissioner's office in the Victoria Island district of Lagos, carrying placards and chanting slogans.

Some of the placards read "other Africans supported your independence. Stop this madness", "South African madness must be tamed", "attack against Nigerians is unjustifiable" and "Nigerians must be treated with dignity in South Africa."

Nigeria played a major role in South Africa's anti-apartheid struggle, providing funds, food and other forms of assistance.

Security was beefed up around the mission to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

President Umaru Yar'Adua on Thursday ruled out official retaliatory measures against South Africa over attacks on Nigerian citizens in that country.

"I am going to South Africa next week on a state visit. Nigeria is playing a very critical and important role on the African continent... so the issue of retaliation does not arise," he said in a live television interview to mark his first anniversary in office.

The visit begins on Monday, officials said.

"What we need to do is to resolve these problems through dialogue. We are trying to bring Africans together... to integrate our economies," Yar'Adua said.

Nigeria previously said on Tuesday it would press for compensation from the South African government for its citizens who were victims of anti-immigrant attacks in that country.

More than 50 people have been killed and tens of thousands of foreigners left homeless, mainly around Johannesburg, following two weeks of attacks which later spread to most parts of South Africa.

The state-run News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported last week that dozens of Nigerians resident in Hillbrow, Berea and Yeoville districts in Johannesburg had been attacked and their shops vandalised or looted.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria and South Africa's Bafana Bafana are playing on Sunday in Abuja in a 2010 African Nations Cup football qualifier.

- AFP