The Nigerian community in South Africa has said that eight of its members abducted by South Africans in Evander, North-West of Secunda in Mpumalanga Province of that country were released early on Wednesday.
Mr Adetola Olubajo, the President of Nigerian Union in South Africa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the abducted Nigerians were released following pressure from the union on the South African authorities.
Olubajo said that Nigerians at Evander in Mpumalanga Province had informed the union about attacks on Nigerians in that province.
“According to witnesses and one of the survivors, Evander locals went on rampage in the early hours of April 2 and attacked businesses and property owned by Nigerians.
“The mob arrested eight Nigerians and took them to an unknown destination,’’ he told NAN.
Olubajo added that the union had informed the Nigerian mission in South Africa about the incident, urging them to intervene and put an end to the attacks on Nigerians.
He also urged Nige,01rians in South Africa to remain calm, law-abiding and avoid acts capable of putting them in trouble or tarnishing the image of the country.
Earlier, Mr Christopher Ogugofor, the leader of the Nigerian community in Evander, said on telephone from Mpumalanga on Wednesday that the Nigerians were abducted from their shops on Tuesday.
“They (South Africans) started attacking and looting our shops on March 29. But on Tuesday, April 2, they took away eight of our members to unknown destination.
“They were taken to an unknown destination and no ransom was demanded.
“We reported the incident to the Nigerian Union. For now, we have taken protective measures and some of our members are in safe places out of the town,’’ he said.
