Nigerian Youth Coalition warns South African investors to leave Nigeria

Amid widespread reports alleging Nigerian immigrants are under fatal xenophobic attacks in South Africa, Sahara Reporters announced on Tuesday (Sept. 3) that the Oodua Youth Coalition issued a seven-day ultimatum to all South African business owners and investors in Nigeria, warning them “to leave the country or risk being attacked.”

The announcement follows reports saying Nigerians and their businesses in South Africa are under brutal attack.

“Oodua Youth Coalition is saddened and angered that South Africans, supported by the country’s authorities, is coordinating the looting and burning of Nigerian businesses and maiming and killing of our brothers and fathers in their land,” said President of the OYC, Oluyi Tayo, in a statement.

Tayo went on to say, “It is unfortunate that South Africa, who under the apartheid regime had the support and solidarity of Nigerians and the government, are now turning around to inflict physical and psychological pains and injuries on our citizens.”

Given the reported heinous acts, Tayo and his nationalist cohort intend on inflicting the same kind of punishment, citing a previous welcoming of South African investors in Nigeria.

“We have condoned the excesses of these South Africans whose businesses have been thriving in Nigeria without any form of physical and psychological attack,” he continued. “OYC has concluded plans to as a matter of urgency, attack all South African businesses and facilities spread across Nigeria, especially in the Southwest region of the country.”

OYC have given said South African businesses “a maximum of seven days to leave Nigeria or we will attack and burn them down.”

BET has reached out to Sahara Reporters, a New York-based agency dedicated to reporting on the “corruption, human rights abuses and other political misconduct in Nigeria,” owned and operated by political activist and human rights journalist Omoyele Sowore, who is currently under the custody of the Nigerian government on the grounds of so-called treason.