*Says ‘all options remain on the table’ for activation if ‘uncultured and provocative trend of intolerance and apartheid-style behaviour of South Africa against foreigners’ are not addressed
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
Nigeria on Sunday sharply escalated diplomatic pressure on South Africa, warning that it could activate unspecified measures against Pretoria if the persistent killings and targeted attacks on Nigerian nationals continue, following the deaths of two Nigerians within days amid renewed xenophobic tensions.
The warning, one of the strongest issued by Abuja in recent years over the safety of its citizens in South Africa, came as the Federal Government condemned what it described as a disturbing pattern of extra-judicial killings, hate speech and growing Afrophobic violence, insisting that South African authorities must urgently bring perpetrators to justice.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government said the continued attacks had reached an intolerable level, declaring that while Nigeria remained committed to diplomacy and African solidarity, its patience should not be mistaken for weakness.
