Nigeria ministry of foreign affairs has said that most of the attacks and killings carried out on Nigerians in South Africa are more criminally related than xenophobic attack.

The ministry’s spokesperson, Tope Elias-Fatile, said this while speaking to newsmen in Abuja yesterday Wednesday February 14th. According to Fatile, the ministry was in constant touch with the Nigerian mission in South Africa who present records of Nigerians apprehended for committing criminally-related offences.

“From the report I can authoritatively tell you that the killings of Nigerians in South Africa were more of criminal issue. Consistently we are in touch with the ambassador and the consular in South Africa and that is why I said that the pockets of killing are not actually xenophobia they are more of crime related issues” he said.

The spokesperson of the Ministry added that the Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama and other top members of the ministry are currently working with relevant authorities in South Africa to ensure that there is an end to the attacks.

“There is a plan for a meeting to address the issues holistically. As I am talking to you the ministry is in touch with South African authority because that is one of the volatile area,” he said.

Over 100 Nigerians have been killed in South Africa in the last two years.

Source: L.Ikeji