By Ezrel Tabiowo
Abuja
Disturbed by incessant threats by Nigerians to reciprocate recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, yesterday said that Nigerians were not the targets in the recent xenophobic attacks against African immigrants resident in South Africa.
The foreign affairs minister disclosed that Nigerians in South Africa suffered minimal losses in the attacks allegedly instigated by the Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini.
According to him, targets of xenophobic attacks were mainly Ethiopians, Zimbabweans and Malawians living in South Africa.
Wali, who made the disclosure while appearing before the Senate Committee on Foreign to brief legislators concerning the attacks, appealed to the lawmakers to rescind last week’s resolution reached by the Senate, urging the federal government should recall Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa.
He stressed that even countries whose citizens were worst hit by the attacks had not considered the recall of their envoys, adding that the South African President, Mr. Jacob Zuma, made impressive effort by mobilizing the soldiers to assist the Police to quell the xenophobic attacks.
Wali further said that the South African Human Rights Commission had commenced an investigation into the incident, and, therefore, pleaded that the country should not because this singular problem severe its diplomatic relation with South Africa.
