In the wake of the recurrent xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa, some Nigerians are staging a massive protest at Shopr...
In the wake of the recurrent xenophobic attacks against
Nigerians in South Africa, some Nigerians are staging a massive protest at
Shoprite premises along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, which has led to huge traffic
gridlock. The protesters are calling for a shutdown of all businesses that are
owned by South Africans in the country. An alleged altercation with the police
has reportedly claimed the live of one of the protesters. Over the years,
several Nigerians have been killed and their shops and businesses burnt down by
South Africans in a series of Xenophobic attacks. South Africans, since
Thursday, August 29, had started another renewed spate of attacks, burning down
and looting shops owned by Nigerians. Angered that the South African government
is not doing enough to stop the attack, some Nigerians, on Tuesday afternoon,
September 3, stormed the South African owned super market along the Lekki-Epe
Expressway calling for a complete shutdown of the business. Shut-down all South
African businesses in Nigeria - Group tells Buhari According to Sahara
Reporters, the protesters who are largely made up of young Nigerians chanted
songs of solidarity as they made their way into the place and eventually
disrupted activities. The protesters, despite the presence of heavily-armed
security personnel, ensured that they created tension at the place. An
eyewitness who spoke with The Guardian claimed the protesters stormed the
shopping mall outlet to vandalise it. She, however, added that security
operatives have since moved to contain the situation, dispersing the irate
youths with tear gas and gunshots. Another eyewitness who spoke with Premium
Times, Gboyega Bashorun, said he was returning home from work when he noticed a
raging inferno. “I was coming back from work around 3:30 when I suddenly
noticed a burning fire at the Shoprite by Jakande Bus-Stop,” Bashorun, a
technical assistant, was quoted to have said. “I saw a raging fire and saw
several police vans and other security people at the entrance.” “The Mobil and
SPG gas stations nearby also closed their gates. I later gathered that it was a
retaliation for what happened in South Africa,” he added. The newspaper adds
that a video sent by Bashorun also showed wild smoke billowing over the
supermarket's premises from an apparent burning of tyres. The police and other
security personnel in Lagos have foiled an attempt by irate Nigerians to burn a
Shoprite location in Lekki, Lagos, the newspaper also confirmed. However, an
updated report by The Cable claims a yet to be identified person has been shot
dead outside the Shoprite premises where the protest is taking place. A witness
who described the victim as a protester said he was killed after an angry mob
set a police van on fire during the protest, the newspaper reports.
source: https://www.legit.ng/
