Nigerian Students Reads Riot Act To South Africa, Gives 72hrs Ultimatum

Tijani Usman, President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, led a protest march by Nigerian students to various South Africa interest in Abuja on Tuesday.

The students held placards with inscriptions, as "Say no to Xenophobia''; "Xenophobia is Evil''; "South Africa, Enough is Enough'', and chanting anti-xenophobic attacks slogans. The students made a stop at MTN Nigeria office before proceeding to the South Africa High Commission both in Maitama, Abuja.

The student's leaders reiterate NANS earlier ultimatum to South Africans living and doing business in Nigeria, Mr Nwankwo Ezekiel,  NANS Public Relations Officer, told News Agency of Nigeria that;

"In our statement earlier, we gave seven days but today, we want to register our grievances so that in the next three days, we will shut down all South African investments in Nigeria, if the attacks are not stopped,''

In the same vain, Mr Usman said the Nigerian students are ready for a showdown with South African, unless the attacks are curbed immediately, "this is a signal; we are giving them 72 hours to stop all attacks; if they fail, they will face the wrath of Nigerian students", he said.

Speaking further at the protest, Usman said the students purpose was to condemn the attacks and the South African Government's unwillingness to arrest the situation and avoid further loss of life and properties, "the purpose of this protest is to register our grievances and solidarise with our people in South Africa because of the xenophobic attacks; Africa is our own and we should not be racists in our own continent.

"We condemn such acts and we call on President Jacob Zuma of South Africa to address this issue with immediate effect, otherwise South Africans in Nigeria will not find things easy here; we will make sure they are deported back and we will shut all their businesses."

He also appealed to the United Nation to intervene in the situation and call the South African Government to order, as it seemed not too ruffled by the events in that country.

The protest, which was largely peaceful nearly degenerate into chaos at the MTN Nigeria office as some students were bent on attacking the company's installations, it took the timely intervention of FCT Commissioner of Police to quell the tension at the company's premises.

The CP said his job was made easy with the co-operation of the students leaders. He said, he was able to speak with the association leader and had him co-operate to move the protest away from the MTN premises.