Buhari Sends Special Envoy To South Africa Over Killing of Nigerians

Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has sent a special envoy to South Africa over the killing of Nigerians in the country.

Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, disclosed this in a statement  on Tuesday.

According to Adesina, President Buhari asked the envoy to convey his concerns to South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa and engage him on the killings.

While the envoy would arrive in Pretoria latest Thursday, President Buhari directed the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, to summon the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria.

The minister was asked to get a brief on the situation and get the assurance of South African authorities on the safety of the lives and property of Nigerians in the country.

The statement comes hours after Mr Onyeama met with South Africa’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Bobby Monroe.

The meeting may not be unconnected with the President’s directive to engage the South African envoy on the killing of Nigerians in the country.

At the meeting, Monroe denied reports of Xenophobic attacks in his country, saying the violence was not targeted at Nigerians.

He, however, said the attacks were ‘sporadic acts of violence’, claiming that businesses belonging to South Africans were also affected.