Xenophobia: Security Operatives Condon Off Shoprite, MTN, DSTV Premises As Firms Close Shop Nationwide

A combined team of the Nigeria Police, Army and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have cordoned off the premises of Shoprite, MTN and DSTV in Asaba, Delta state capital following plans by some group of protesters to storm the business hubs over the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa.

The trio firms are South Africa companies with Nigerian franchise running businesses in major cities across the country.

BIGPEN Online reports that security personnel were deployed to the various South Africa business premises in a bid to foil any possible retaliatory attack by Nigerians who are mourning the killings of their love ones in South Africa.

This is coming as managements of Shoprite and MTN in Warri and Asaba had On Tuesday evening directed workers to stay off work on Wednesday.

The establishment including South Africa owned Multichioce DSTV also closed shops including outlets against customers across the state. 

BIGPEN Online reports that security operatives stood guard at the various business premises in the twin cities of Warri/Effurun and also in Asaba, the state capital on Wednesday to avert the destruction of the company’s property.

The Chief Executive Officer, CEO, MTN Nigeria, Ferdi Moolman, had in a statement on Tuesday evening, said the company was against all forms of violence and xenophobia against people.

“MTN Nigeria strongly condemns hate, prejudice and xenophobia and reiterate our unequivocal condemnation of all violence. We seek to connect people, bring people together and provide a platform for everyone’s voice to be heard. We are against all forms of bigotry and discrimination; they should have no place in society,” he added.

Meanwhile, leader of a group of protesters in Asaba, Harrison Gwamnishu, founder of the Behind Bar Rights, Initiative (BBI), while condemning the brutal attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa said, “We have mobilised to protest this ungodly attacks on Nigerians by South Africans. My cousin was killed in the attack, and so many innocent Nigerians have lost their lives and how long shall we continue to remain silent. We shall be going to take over Shoprite and MTN in Asaba.”

Also condemning in its entirety the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, the Delta State secretary of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Israel Joe, expressed disappointment over the continued silent of African Union and ECOWAS.

“You can see the most callous, wicked and brutal ways Africans “South Africans” kill Africans (Nigerians) and we are not making it a debatable issue. No statement from African Union (AU), and statement from ECOWAS”, he added.

“South-Africans are attacking and killing Nigerians in South-Africa and some persons are advising them to return home. They will not return. They prefer to die there than return to a country that has no living or death plans for them. Can you tell me one single benefit of being a Nigerian?. This is the reality of a failed state that has no plans for her citizens”.