Angered by the recent attack on Nigerians in South Africa, some Nigerians on Tuesday reportedly destroyed goods at South Africa’s grocery chain, Shoprite, at Osapa-London, Lekki area of Lagos.
Similarly, an MTN Nigeria outlet in Ikeja, Lagos was shut after some Nigerians took to the streets to protest xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
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Current situation at Shoprite, Lekki. Via @tundeednut #TheNewsGuru
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Video footage of the disruption going on at shoprite in Osapa london, lekkipic.twitter.com/sTLusgvQ4W
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— #BBNaija Laila Ijeoma (@LailaIjeoma) September 3, 2019
This comes after reports on violence against Nigerians living in South Africa went viral.
Earlier on Thursday, the telecommunications company issued a statement condemning xenophobic attacks.
“MTN Nigeria strongly condemns hate, prejudice and xenophobia and reiterate our unequivocal condemnation of all violence,” the statement read.
“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.
“Everyone has the right to a world where their rights and freedoms are respected — the right to live and earn a living, freely, safely and protected by the law.”
Recall that South African mobs launched attacks on foreigners, including Nigerians, and looted and burnt their places of business in suburbs of Johannesburg and surrounding areas on Sunday, September 1, 2019, and Monday, September 2.
Three people were reported to have been killed in a fire started by a mob on an abandoned building in the Jeppestown area of Johannesburg.
The attacks have angered many Nigerians who have called for a boycott of South African businesses, like Shoprite, operating in Nigeria.
Shoprite staff, customers as well as others in the mall were thrown into a state of panic when a group started disruptive activities, knocking items off shelves.
A swift reaction from police officers then forced the protesters out onto the streets where they were filmed burning tyres and disrupting activities on the Lekki-Epe Expressway. Many were also reported to have thrown stones at the mall.
Another group of protesters demonstrated peacefully at Ikeja City Mall, Ikeja, which also houses a Shoprite outlet.