South Africa to be vigilant and exercise caution in their activities due to the recent utterances of the proponents of the Operation Dudula and their threats to attack foreign nationals in this country.” ByChiamaka Okafor August 29, 2022 Reading Time: 1 min read The Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa, has alerted Nigerians living in South Africa of a planned attack on foreign nationals. In a memo dated 24 August, the consular section of the embassy wrote, “this is to advise Nigerians living in South Africa to be vigilant and exercise caution in their activities due to the recent utterances of the proponents of the Operation Dudula and their threats to attack foreign nationals in this country.” According to the memo, the group (Operation Dudula) through public notice and video clips on social media announced a March against foreign migrants in South Africa from the 2nd of September. The march, according to the embassy, is targeted at foreign business owners, shops and undocumented foreign nationals. Violent attacks on Nigerians and other Africans have regularly erupted in South Africa partly because some South Africans accuse foreigners of dealing drugs or taking their jobs. In 2019, at least 10 deaths were recorded, including two foreigners, and many businesses were destroyed, prompting Nigeria to recall its ambassador while President Muhammadu Buhari sent a special envoy to South Africa. The South African government who had largely blamed the attacks on criminals, later admitted that some of it was being driven by xenophobia. The attacks led Nigeria to boycott the World Economic Forum in South Africa which was to be attended by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. PREMIUM TIMES reached out to the South African High Commission in Nigeria for comments but was yet to receive any response at the time of this report.

  There was panic among those living around Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Ogun state, on Monday, following an explosion at a gas station. The explosion was said to have occurred at the station, where gas-laden trucks were parked, near the Redemption Camp, Ogun state. One of the gas trucks was said to have caught fire, which resulted in the inferno. The inferno destroyed some of the gas trucks and cylinders at the station.   The cause of the explosion has not been ascertained as of the time of filing this report. Fire fighters from Ogun and Lagos states were mobilised to the scene. Reacting to the incident, Margaret Adeseye, director of Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, in a statement said the inferno did not cause any injury or death.   “The fire which was reported at 11:22 hours, Monday, was subdued from causing a secondary incident by the Alausa and Ilupeju fire crews, leaving four stationed gas trucks severely burnt,” she said. “There was neither case of injury nor death as damping down of the fire has been concluded. “The cause of the fire is unknown at the time of this report as preliminary investigation is ongoing and will be made public. “Meanwhile, the area is safe and people can go about their lawful businesses without fear.”

  The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, on Monday, said attacks on police officers on official duties will no longer be tolerated. He also ordered all police commands and formations to ensure immediate prosecution of anyone who assaults policemen regardless of the causative factors. This was contained in a statement signed on Monday by Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi. The statement partly read, “The IGP emphasized that attacks on police officers, who are uniformed agents of the state, is both illegal and an affront on the rule of law. “The IGP warned that attacks on police officers and men in the line of duty would no longer be tolerated under whatever guise, as the Force holds the lives of its personnel sacrosanct. “Consequently, the IGP has directed all police commands and formations to ensure that individuals who engage in assault on police officers, irrespective of preceding factors, are made to face the full wrath of the law via swift prosecution in courts of competent jurisdiction. The Inspector-General of Police while reiterating the commitment of the Force to ensuring the protection of lives and property, stressed the importance of according respect for the fundamental rights of police officers and other security operatives, in order to enable them to advance their sacred mandate of serving and protecting the citizens better and maintenance of law and order.”

  There were reports of unrest in Kuje medium security custodial centre on Monday over the death of an inmate. According to the reports, the inmate died after he was not given prompt medical attention. Although prison authorities confirmed the death in a statement, they said adequate medical attention had been provided. A statement signed by a correctional service spokesperson, Chukwuedo Humphrey, was also silent on an unrest, saying “a peaceful prayer session” had been held in honour of the inmate. “The inmate was admitted into Kuje custodial centre in 2019 and upon mandatory medical examination, he was diagnosed of some chronic ailments,” the statement said. “He was immediately placed on special medical management by a combined team of medical personnel in the facility as well as occasional referals to the University of Abuja Teaching hospital, Gwagwalada, Abuja when necessary. “Unfortunately, when the inmate’s health deteriorated over the weekend, all effort by the medical personnel to resuscitate him failed. “A peaceful prayer session is being organised by the staff and fellow inmates of the deceased for the repose of his soul. “The Controller of the Command, Ahmed Musa Ahmed while expressing his condolences to the family and friends of the late inmate, reinstated his commitment to putting the health and general welfare of inmates and staff in the front bunner. “He further advised those on special medical attention to ensure strict adherence to expert instructions to overcome health challenges since drugs are available to them at no cost.”