World

Nigerians get 12-hour ultimatum to leave South African province

Thursday, January 09, 2020 at 7:18 PM by Kess Ewubare

- Indigenes of Keimoes and Upington town in South Africa ask Nigerians and other foreign nationals to vacate the area within 12 hours

- The demand of the indigenes followed an incident where a Nigerian man allegedly stabbed to death a police officer, Nico Visagie, during a disagreement

- The president of Nigeria Union in South Africa, Adetola Olubajo, says community members of Keimoes and environs went on a rampage by burning and destroying properties belonging to foreign nationals over the incident

Indigenes of Keimoes and Upington town of Northern Cape Province in South Africa have given Nigerians and other foreign nationals a 12-hour ultimatum to vacate the area.

The president of Nigeria Union in South Africa, Adetola Olubajo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday, January 9, that the ultimatum was issued after a Nigerian man allegedly stabbed to death a police officer, Nico Visagie, during a disagreement.

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Olubajo said the details of the disagreement were still not very clear as the major witness was also stabbed multiple times and was still in critical condition at the hospital.

“After the horrific incident, the community members of Keimoes and environs went on rampage burning and destroying properties belonging to foreign nationals, Nigerians in particular,” the head of the union said

“These attacks spread to Upington and Nigerians and other foreign nationals were also expelled from Upington."

He said the situation was brought under control by the prompt intervention of the police, but noted that the situation was still tensed.

Olubajo further disclosed that some locals were arrested by the police for public disturbance and malicious damage to properties. He said the suspect who stabbed the police officer had been arrested and would appear in court.

The president of the union expressed the hope that the police will continue to maintain law and order in the area.