London, Sep 6, 2019 (AltAfrica)-The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila has said that the House will authorise legal funding for Nigerians who are victims of the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa. 

“The house will also authorise legal funding for victims of the attack who wish to take legal action against the perpetrators,” he said.

Gbajabiamila revealed this at a press briefing on the xenophobic attacks in the country

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The Speaker also called on Nigerians to avoid attacking South African businesses in Nigeria.

He further revealed that the House aligns with President Muhammadu Buhari on his decisions concerning the matter.

According to him, the House will invite the Minister of Foreign affairs, the Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa and the Chairman of the Diaspora Commission.

He further demanded that the South African government should conduct a thorough investigation and make public their findings.

Meanwhile, human rights organisation, Amnesty International has called on South African authorities to urgently address the escalating attacks on Nigerians and other foreigners living in the country.

The Executive Director of the organisation in South Africa, Mr Shenilla Mohamed, made the call while faulting the government’s attitude to the crisis.

Mohamed’s criticism comes amid the series of condemnation that has trailed the xenophobic attacks targetted at Nigerians and citizens of other countries in South Africa.

“South African authorities must stop fuelling xenophobia in their desperate attempt to win political support,” he was quoted as saying in a statement

The executive director added, “Rather, they must build a country that is rooted in respect for human rights and the rule of law that protects everyone.

“South African authorities must come up with a security plan to ensure the safety of all refugees and migrants and seek to end these attacks once and for all. That begins with holding suspected perpetrators of past xenophobic crimes to account and breaking this cycle of impunity.”

Source