The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South-West Zone D, has warned it will stage protests and picket South African businesses operating in Nigeria following renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Kayode Adeyemo, the zonal coordinator made the position known in a statement issued on Wednesday in Ibadan, expressing anger over reports that two Nigerians were recently killed.
“The recent killing of two Nigerians is not just an isolated tragedy, but a painful reminder of a recurring pattern of hostility and violence against our people,” he said.
Adeyemo described the continued targeting of Nigerians as unacceptable, insisting it must end immediately.
“The continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end,” he added.
He said the student body had begun mobilising for peaceful protests and picketing of South African firms, arguing that it was unjust for such businesses to thrive in Nigeria while Nigerians faced violence abroad.
“It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere. This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” he said.
Adeyemo urged the South African authorities to take decisive steps to protect foreign nationals and ensure those responsible for the attacks are brought to justice.
He added that NANS remained open to dialogue with diplomatic and business stakeholders but stressed that Nigerian students would not remain silent in the face of threats to the safety and dignity of their compatriots.
“This is a moment for accountability, responsibility and decisive action,” he said.