Vice President Kashim Shettima has warned that Nigeria will no longer accept the continued humiliation and mistreatment of its citizens in South Africa.
Shettima issued the warning on Monday in Luanda, Angola, shortly before departing for Nigeria after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
Speaking to journalists, the Vice President condemned the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks targeting Nigerians and other Africans, saying the situation had reached a point that could no longer be ignored.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, disclosed this in a statement titled, ‘VP Shettima: Why South Africans Must Rethink Xenophobic, Afrophobic Attacks.’
The statement quoted Shettima as saying, “The government and people of Nigeria will no longer countenance a situation whereby our people are dehumanised and put into very, very unacceptable situations,”
He recalled Nigeria’s contribution to the liberation struggles in Southern Africa, stressing that the country was deeply affected by reports of Nigerians being subjected to humiliation.
“We were part of the struggle for the liberation of our brothers and sisters in Southern Africa, and we feel personally pained that our people have been picked up for humiliation,” he added.
The Vice President also referenced Nigeria’s historical support for Southern African countries, stating, “Those whose palm kernels were cracked by benevolent spirits should learn to be humble.”
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Despite his strong condemnation of the attacks, Shettima said Nigeria would continue to favour diplomatic engagement and dialogue over confrontation.
“We believe in having very robust conversations with our South African brothers. We don’t want to overheat the polity, but once in a while, you have to make it very clear, vehemently clear, that certain situations are unacceptable, and we’ll work things out.”
He further called on South African authorities to ensure that immigration enforcement does not come at the expense of human dignity and the protection of lives.
Shettima’s remarks came after Nigeria, through a message delivered on behalf of President Tinubu at the AU summit, formally raised concerns over the repeated attacks and asked that the issue be included on the agenda of the AU’s 40th Ordinary Session, scheduled for January 2027.
Nigeria has described the incidents as a danger to African unity, solidarity and peaceful coexistence.
The Vice President subsequently departed Luanda for Nigeria.