UNICAL: Abductors demand ransom

KIDNAPPERS of the University of Calabar staff are demanding a ransom before they could release their victims.

The abductors are demanding a ransom to the tune of  N60 million from the family members.

Investigations by Daily Sun revealed that the kidnappers called yesterday demanding that each of the two families should pay N30 million as ransom to secure their release.

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HOW KIDNAPPERS RAIDED UNICAL STAFF QUARTERS, ABDUCTED 3

3 persons, including a lecturer’s wife, his daughter and a Medical Doctor were on May Day’s holiday abducted by a group of men from the underworld who raided UNICAL staff quarters with arms and ammunitions.

UNICAL Staff Quarters

Unical Staff Quarters; an ambient zone, located about 2 Kilometres away from the University’s academic area is a home for University lecturers and some students. University Staff, especially senior staff are given some chalets in the quarters to live with their families. Some students squat in the Boys Quarters section of the chalets, often ramshackle and rustic one-door rooms. The students get these rooms from lecturers who give them away for a token, as low as N15,000 (about $50), annually.

The Staff Quarters, about 10 Kilometre Square in land mass is sharing boundary with UNICAL Farm on the west and Qua River on the south.

Inhabitants of the quarters benefit from the quarter’s proximity to classrooms and offices, steady supply of water and light etc. The Quarters has a trekable distance from the school through foot-long shortcuts and bush paths which students take to their classes. The road leading to the Staff Quarters is well-tarred for vehicles and automobiles, making it one of the places in UNICAL with good road network.

Barr.  Ekpeyong Bassey Iniama and Dr. Wilfred Ndifon are few of many UNICAL staff whose residence are in the Staff Quarters.

Barr. Iniama, with his family have been living in the Staff Quarters since 1998.

Barr. Iniama is the Deputy Registrar Academics of UNICAL Graduate School while Dr. Ndifon is a Lecturer in Medical Collage of the University.

The Staff Quarters has been a peaceful solace for the Iniamas, the Ndifons and a host of other academic families in UNICAL until recently when they started experiencing some flakes of attacks from men of the underworld.

9 armed men struck UNICAL Staff Quarters on May Day

On 2nd day of May, 2016, being the May Day Holiday, members of Knight of Saint Molumba (KSM) Zone 2 were in a meeting at Barr. Iniama’s residence.
The meeting is a periodic one which is hosted on rotation by the members of KSM. 2nd day of May was the turn of Barr. Iniama to host.

Barr. Iniama is a member of the Zone while his wife, Mrs. Iniama is the Treasurer.

“I went to Uyo that day but I didn’t plan to stay long”, said Barr. Iniama. He couldn’t meet up when the meeting started. “You know how bad our road is; you cannot tell how long a journey would take you.

“When I got to 8 Miles I received a call that there was sporadic gun shot in my area. I called my wife and she assured me that the meeting was going on peacefully. I wasn’t satisfied so I called my daughter; she was crying. At that point I knew something was wrong. It then appeared to me that my wife didn’t want to reveal something to me so that I won’t panic while travelling on the road”.

“But before then, people were calling me that there was chaos in my compound. So, I put a call across to the Airport Division of Nigerian Police Force (NPF) to report the case. I called the police men that were attached to us here. I also called the University Security officials.

“When I arrived my house, I met them at the meeting. Everyone was bemoaned.

How Dr. Iniama was kidnapped

Dr. David Ekpenyong Iniama is the first son of Barr. Iniama. He is a Doctor of Medicine and a graduate of UNICAL. He is currently working with the Society for Family Health (SFH) in Calabar.

Dr. David is one of the many children staying with their parents at the staff quarters. He goes to work from home and comes back in the evening. 
He doesn’t normally come home late hours of the day. He was late that day because “there was a program which SFH was organising in Calabar which my son is playing a significant role. The program was supposed to start the next day so he stayed back in the office to put plans together ahead of the program”, said his father Barr. Iniama.

When he came back from work around 8PM, Dr. David Iniama was not anticipating any harm. To him, the day was like a normal day. He parked his car in open garage and steped out. Immediately, a two boys came from the bush, accosted him and started harassing him, dragging him along. 

Mrs. Iniama was in the meeting of KSM, giving a financial report of the union to the members when she heard his son’s loud exchanges with the gang outside. She peeped thru the window and saw two men dragging her son. She immediately sensed danger and raised alarm.
She quickly ran outside and screamed at those boys “what has my son done? Leave him alone. Leave him alone”.

The boys insisted and kept dragging him into the bush. At the intervention of Mrs. Iniama, it became difficult for the boys to drag Dr. David. They signalled two other people who were readily ambushed nearby. They came out with guns; that was when the shooting started.

They shot sporadically into the air and threatened to shoot Mrs. Iniama but the lovely mother insisted and shouted “kill me and leave my son”. They overpowered Mrs. Iniama and assisted the other two who came initially to drag Dr. David away.

How Dr. Ndifon's Wife and Daughter were kidnapped

The helpless exchanges and the alarm raised by the Iniamas awakened the consciousness of neighbours. The Ndifons, staying two blocks away from the Iniamas were concerned so they decided to lend some help.

As soon as Mrs. Ndifon in the company of her daughter came out, they were abducted without any difficulty by a group of about 4 boys.

It was then that the residents realised that they were under attack.

Four simultaneous attacks were going on at the same time amidst sporadic firing of gun which was gathered to be the AK-47 riffle.

The entire Staff Quarters was raided by a group of boys who gained access to the vicinity through the Qua River located about 4 poles away from the quarters.

According Barr. Iniama, “by the time I came back, the police, the DSS, the Chief Security officer were all in my house. They had reacted to my call and I was very happy about that”.

Shortly after the attack, some inhabitants of Staff Quarters who reside upstairs heard a speed boat take off from the river bank. There was strong suspicion that the boat was the medium through which the abductors came.

Where the security men?

Staff Quarters has two security booths, located close to each other. But the residents are not satisfied with the services of the UNICAL security outfit so they resorted to the NPF. Each staff living in block QH/QI make a contribution of N3000 monthly into a common purse for security in the area. The money is paid to the Airport Division of the NPF who would send only 2 policemen to the quarters every night.

When the incident happened, the two policemen were in the second security booth about 50 Metres away from Dr. Iniama’s house. “They were not on patrol. They sat there doing nothing. That is how they do every day”, said a furious resident. Barr. Iniama added that “there is a limit at which the security can go. They are not guarding one house only but so many houses. So they cannot be everywhere at the same time”.

Before the abductors came

There has been series of attacks at the Staff Quarters since this year. Barr. Iniama recalled what happened on 13th of February this year. “There has been this was of attack in this part of the University recently. They came on the 13th of February this year, broke the door of Prof. Okezie’s house, collected over N300,000 from him. They went to the house of this same Dr. Ndifon, broke through and collected money from him. Now they have come by way of kidnap. This means they have found our vulnerability.

Our reporter equally gathered that one Prof. Osim’s house witnessed an attack early last month when a group of boys accosted him while in his house.

There is no security light in the quarters

Before Dr. David Iniama was kidnapped, the abductors laid ambush in nearby bush. It was as soon as he packed and alighted from his car that he was accosted from the boys already hiding in the bush. “The bush is a safe haven for abductors and bad elements”, said a resident who is a student in Faculty of Education.
“There is no security light here. The only security light was in my house but it cannot beam into the bush”, said Barr. Iniama.

“When the 13th February incident happened, we met with the Vice Chancellor and he was very much concerned about the welfare of his staff. He instructed that security lights should be fixed all over the quarters. We discovered that the contractor did not put the structures along our area.  The only they put is the concrete base but there is no pole on it”.

“The other day, the Deputy Vice Chancellor came here and we showed him the half-done project. He immediately called the Director of Physical Planning to find out the reason for the delay and he said the contractor has decided to stop work because they have not given him money”.

‘We share boundary with villagers’, Victim's Dad

There are a lot of strange people who walk around the staff quarters area. They make use of the University’s land to plant shrubs, waterleaf plants, vegetables, maize plant, etc. They fetch water from the Staff Quarter’s water stand. It is normal to see strangers creep out from nearby bushes carrying fire woods, water cans, bush meats, fresh fish caught in the river etc.

There are people equally living by the river bank. They are farmers, fishermen, boat makers, hunters, etc. Barr. Iniama described the situation as improper saying that “the University is virtually living in the midst of a village. I have never seen this kind of exposure and threat since I came in here”.

When our correspondent visited the river, one of the men said he was invited by his brother to come over and do a fishing business. “I have been fishing here for more than 8 months. My business is booming”. Asked if he was there on the day of the attack, he said “no”.

ASUU shuts down classes

24 hours after the attack, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) UNICAL Chapter declared one week solidarity sympathy break for the victims.
In a telephone interview with our corresponded, the Secretary of ASUU Dr. Jonas Ekung said he hasn’t been permitted to talk to the media. But, he reiterated that the ASUU members are not on strike. He said it is normal for the union to express sympathy to their members when they are faced with critical challenges such as this.

Dr. Ekung said ASUU is not on strike. He said apart from holding lectures, other academic activities can still go on.

Any hope for the Iniama's and Ndifon's?

“We have not heard from anybody. We don’t know where they were taken to. We are praying to God because he is our only hope in the time of trouble”, said Barr. Iniama when our correspond visited him.

There is a call for immediate action to be taken by the University. Barr. Iniama adviced: “the university should put a perimeter fence round this area to save us from the danger of attacks from outsiders”.

Another resident, 400 level student of English said: “the university should be more purposeful in their action. Apart from the open attack that we experience here, there are equally phone snatching and all of that. The University should do something. It is happening to staff now, who knows if it will be the turn of students next time and by then, no one can tell what the students are able to do”.

The school Public Relations Officer, Mr. Eyo Effiong Bassey did not take calls put through his line. He was not equally on sit when our correspondent visited.

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UNICAL VC: WE ARE POISED TO SUPPORT STUDENTS’ WELFARE

The newly admitted students of University of Calabar, (UNICAL) have officially taken their oath in an event marking the 38th matriculation oath taking ceremony. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Zana Akpagu, during the occasion, pledged to support students’ welfare.  Stanley Uchegbu (ICAN Student, Calabar) and Gift Adah (Faculty of Law) report.

On Tuesday March 22nd 2016, 8,259 students took their matriculation oaths into the University of Calabar,(UNICAL).  Out of 21,247 candidates who applied to study in the prestigious university through the University Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) only 8,259 met up with the admission requirements.

It was a historic one in the series as it was the first matriculation ceremony hosted by the new Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Zana Akpagu.
It was a delightful moment not only for the matriculating students but for their parents and guardians, who came around to witness the grand occasion, which marked the beginning of university education for their lucky students.

The venue of the occasion, Abraham Odia stadium was lavishly decorated and festooned with flowers, signifying the importance of the event which comes up once a year. The obstacle which the students normally go through to advance to that level adds value to the occasion, especially when one realises that there were several students who had studied very hard and sat for the UTME exam more than four times and are yet to gain admission into the university.
Before the matriculation exercise, students engaged in wild celebration by splashing themselves with all kinds of sticky liquid, dirty water, mud, including sachet water and blue solution.

The enraged students who spoke with CAMPUSLIGHT expressed displeasure over the conduct of their senior colleague before the matriculation oath taking ceremony.

A 100 level student of Human Anatomy, Paul Achunwa, who was splashed with mud said: “I would find the celebration to be good only if we do it in a proper way. I am averse to people pouring me dirty water. It is never welcomed.

It has now turned bizarre because bullying and mobbing is now associated with celebration of matriculation of freshmen in which other students chase them with dirty water used for cooking and washing.

CAMPUSLIGHT observed the excitement at off campus hostels where Ben Udofia, a 300 level student of Agricultural Science and comedian mobbed his occupant with a bucket of muddy water. He was drenched from head to toe.

Another student splashed him with water mixed with powdered pepper.

According to Edith Effiok, a 100 level student of Biochemistry, I was still on bed when some group of youth invaded my hostel. They were carrying buckets of muddy water, blue solution and other sticky liquid they collected from the gutter. They ordered me to come out and I obeyed; they asked me to kneel down, I obeyed; they splashed the whole content on me, I nearly collapsed because the mud and other particles from the liquid blocked my nostrils. It was so disgusting.
Abasieffiok Jude, a graduating student of Economics said: ‘’Water baptism’ is a form of celebration which signifies the washing down of unforeseen academic stress, hurdles and frustration. I don’t see it as a bad culture but as part of the excitement that characterise admission into the university.

Vera Akpama, a final year student of Philosophy, who opposed the wild celebration said: “It is always fun and an official way used by the senior students in welcoming their junior colleague into the campus. But, I am completely against the mobbing and pouring of dirty water on new students. It is unhygienic and should not be encouraged.

The matriculation proper started at exactly 10am with procession of matriculating students and the university senate into the venue, Abraham Odia Stadium. 
Also in the procession were Deputy Vice Chancellor on Academic, Prof. Mrs. Florence Obi, University Registrar, Mr. Moses Abang, Dean of Graduate School Prof. Emeka Okwueze and his counterpart Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof. Felix Akpan among other dignitaries.

Presenting his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Akpagu disclosed that the approved admission quota by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is 6,787, “but over 17,898 students applied to the university through the UTME while 3,347 applied through Direct Entry”.

Taking a phrase from the Holy Bible, the first Alumni VC said “many are called but few are chosen”. He described the new students as the few who have been luckily chosen from the huge number of applicants to the university.

As a one time student of the university, Prof. Akpagu expressed that his policies are pro-student and he is poised to support the welfare of the students in his administration. “The students are my priority. The students form the core of the university community.

Still speaking, the VC noted that his administration is waging a relentless war against extortion by lecturers, sorting by students, indiscipline, violation of rules and procedures, rape, sexual harassment and other unethical practices in the university.

He advised the students to constantly stick to their main goal of coming to the university which is reading and learning to earn a good degree. “The goal cannot be achieved if you avail yourself to frivolous activities. Be focused and obey the university’s rules and regulations”, Prof. Akpaagu stated.

One of the students who could not conceal his joy said: “Am grateful to God for scaling through the admission hurdles, I know it is not an easy task to pass UTME and POST UTME. It is not by my might but His grace”, he said, adding that he is determined to make a first class degree after school.

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UNICAL Management Donates Mattresses to Students

The management of University of Calabar has donated not less than 3000 new mattresses to the students who reside in the hostel. The donation was done during the median visit of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Zana Akpagu to Malabo, the students’ hostel. The mattresses will replace the old ones which had long been infested by bedbugs.

Prof. Zana was accompanied by Prof. Felix Akpan, the Dean of Students as well as other management officials when he paid the visit. Prof. Zana who was on an inspection tour round the University campus made it known that his administration is committed to the development of the university.
It can be recalled that the students of Unical, on 12th October last year, took to the streets to protest poor hostel facilities and nonchalance of the management to take quick action on their welfare. Shortly after his installation as the Vice Chancellor, 1st December 2015, Prof. Zana promised to enhance the hostel condition. This promise built confidence in minds of the students adding to the fact that Prof. Zana is the first Unical alumnus to be the Vice Chancellor.
In a brief interview with Campuslife reporters, Prof. Zana reiterated his commitment to improve on the welfare of students of the university where he was once a student. He said: “you are aware that I am the first alumnus Vice Chancellor, so I have a passion for you because I am one of you. These visits are just indications of our commitment to you. We want to ensure that we do everything possible to improve on the welfare of the students and also to provide a conducive learning environment for them”.

Prof. Zana said plans are on going to bring back contractors handling hostel renovation projects to complete them. “We are doing everything to get back contractors to site. As you can see we are trying to do landscaping, we want to make this place more beautiful. There is a complete plan for beautification of the university so, we want to start by doing some landscaping”, he stated.

When Campuslife asked him about the memo, released by the Dean Students Affairs Prof. Felix Akpan on behalf of the management, which directed all students to vacate their halls of residence within 48 hours, the university Prof. Zana said the directive became necessary to enable fumigation exercise take place in the hostels. “It is not intended to punish the students. We want to fumigate all the hostels. You know it won’t be safe for them to remain there while fumigation is going on because of the effects of the chemicals. You are all aware of the Lassa fever outbreak, that’s what we avoiding. The students will return as soon as the effects of the chemicals are calm”.

Meanwhile some students who spoke to our correspondence, expressed appreciation to the new Vice Chancellor especially for making students’ welfare top on his agenda. Urang Zaknor said “we are quite impressed at the good ambitions of the new Vice Chancellor about our welfare. He is one of us and I’m sure he’ll do everything possible to give our university a face lift. I will also advice him to ensure better students-lecturers relationship”.

To Usang Ofem “Prof. Zana has a good spirit and a better ambition for not just the students but all other members of the university community. I see him take Unical to a greater height. He is the best for us and he’ll do very well. He needs the support of everybody because he cannot do it alone”.                                                                      
Andikan Mfon replied on Facebook that “this is really a good start for the VC. I also wish the VC will discretely promulgate policies that will help to stem the tide of corruption in Unical, especially in the Registry”.

Reported by:
Kingsley Nnabiget

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UNICAL MAN O’WAR HONOURS NEW V.C.

The Man O ’War team in University of Calabar has organized a parade which was tagged guard of honour for the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of the school, Prof. Zana Akpagu. The parade which was organised on the premises of the VC;s administrative block was arranged by the Man O’ War and the Unical security team.

The V. C was joined by the Acting Chief Security, Mr. Jarlath Abang, Emeka Onu, Man O’ War Instructor and other staff members as he inspected the guard, while Unical students, new and old members of the Man O’ War observed the scene.

While speaking, the Instructor of Man O’ War and the author of the initiative Emeka Onu, a Law Student, said that the guard of honour is an exercise marked to pay homage to the new VC and display the high level of alertness and readiness of the Man O’ War towards ensuring peace and security in the University.
After inspecting the guard, Prof. Zana promised to put more efforts in order to ensure that the Man O’ War as well as the security department of the school gets adequate support to do their work more effectively.

Emeka Onu reassured the Prof. Zana that the Man O’ War under his charge will ensure effective security system in the school hostels, classrooms and around. “Man O’ War is an ineligible aspect of the students body. We do not carry arms but we inspect student activities up to their hostel corners to make sure miscreants don’t penetrate into the students folk and cause damage. The students are our friends. We know ourselves. They know us. That is the best to police students, not by pursuing with arms and ammunitions.

Man O’ War instructor continued that development cannot take place in a chois environment. Those calling for protest, riot and war are those who have no plan for progressive development in our country. Lovers of development are those who sue for peace and not war”.
Onu challenged the students to be of good behaviour and learn to follow peaceful means in presenting their issues to the management rather than protest and riot.  “The students and union leaders should follow dialogue because that is the most accepted fashion of dispute resolution globally. Let us stop riots in our campuses and we will see development take place”, he concluded.

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UNICAL teacher, 2 students abducted by gun men

Unknown gun men, numbering about 7 have adopted a Unical lecturer from his Staff Quaters residence.

The victim, Dr. Stephen Ndifon, a lecturer in the College of Medical Sciences and also a Medical Doctor, was whisked away by the gun men who buggled his premises in the early hours of Tuesday, 3rd May. Witnesses and neighbours told our reporter that the gun men arrived around 4am, shooting sporadically into the air to scare away the people. After the operation which lasted for about 30 mins, Dr. Ndifon along with 2 other students who are resident in his boys quaters were kidnapped. The gun men quickly left the scence, using a speed boat with which they came.

Staff quaters residents who spoke with our correspondents expressed bitterness over the incident lamenting that this is one of the several criminal acts that take place in the area, most times in a broad day light. They questioned why the gun men could operate for such a long time without opposition from security personnel or the police.  The Airport police station is located outside the university, about 3 KM away.

 The school Public Relations Officer Mr. Eyo Effiong gave the assurance that the matter has been reported to the Nigerian Police Force.

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Fani-Kayode’s Trial Adjourned To July

Fani-Kayode in court today

The trial of Femi Fani-Kayode was today adjourned to 1^st July, 2015 by the trial judge, Justice Rita Ofili  Ajumogobia of the federal High Court sitting in Lagos State,.

Justice Ajumogobia said the reason for the adjournment was due to the absence of Mr. Festus Keyamo who is the lead prosecution council. She said “"It is proper for the entire parties to be around for the judgment, I feel this is the right thing to do... it is better to have everyone present for the judgment”

Mr. Keyamo was represented in the court by Festus AFiyen. Mr. Afiyen requested that the court proceed judgment in the absence of his principal. He said:“My lord, I regret to inform the court that Festus Keyamo who is the lead counsel in this matter, would not be able to make it, due to his handling of another important case where he is the principal witness. We regret this development, my lord”.

But the defence council, Mr.  I.A Adedipe requested that the matter be stood down till Mr. Keyamo arrives. He said: “My lord, I spoke with my learned colleague, Keyamo, just now and he told me that if the court can stand the matter down till 1p.m today, he would be around. My lord, we pray that the matter will be stood down, so that the judgment can be heard as scheduled

It can be recalled that Fani- Kayode is facing trial on a two- count charge bordering on money laundering. His trial began in 2008 before Justice Ramat Mohammed of the same court. He was accused by the EFCC of laundering about N100 million while he was the Minister of Culture and Tourism and later, the Minister of Aviation.  On November 17, 2014, the succeeding judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia dismissed 38 of the 40 counts leveled against him. 

The judgment will be delivered on July 1, 2015.

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Super Eagles to get 'new faces'-Keshi

Nigerian fans watched as the Super Eagles laboured to a 2-0 win over Chad last Saturday. Four new faces were introduced to the team by coach Stephen Keshi. He reiterated that this process will continue as he seeks to achieve a balance in his squad.

Even if you've had a team for over five or six years, you will still have one or two additions or subtractions to make in your team because we’re always looking for that balance,” he said.“Against Chad I had several new faces and they are players I have been studying for some time. I know their quality and if we had time, long enough to work together it would have been different from what we saw against Chad.

“We have to do what we have to do to find a very solid team and I have confidence in this group of players because there is a lot of potential and we have to keep giving them more opportunities,” Keshi said.

However, football administrator, Ahmed Garra Gombe has stated that Keshi was heading for another failure, if he continued with what Gombe termed as his uncoordinated approach to the Eagles job.

“With the way Keshi is going, I am afraid we are headed for another failure.

“Look at the last match that was played. What was the pattern? Did it look like a team that has a mission?”

- Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/afcon-2017-expect-more-new-faces-in-my-team-keshi/#sthash.tDtVGpZR.dpuf

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'I'll Buy Arsenal', Dangote Insists

Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote insists that soon, he will have ‘enough time and enough resources’ to buy Arsenal football club, whatever the price.

Dangote, 58, is Africa’s richest man having amassed a fortune in the region of $18.4 billion (£12.2 billion).

He first spoke of his interest in purchasing the Gunners last month when he admitted that ‘one day’ he hoped to buy the club, adding that he ‘already knew’ his strategy to take them forward.

That day may arrive sooner than first expected, with Dangote telling the BBC Tuesday that completion of his proposed oil refinery in Nigeria will provide the funds necessary to launch a takeover of the club.

“When we get this refinery on track, I will have enough time and enough resources to pay what they are asking for,” he told BBC Hausa.

“There were a couple of us who were rushing to buy, and we thought with the prices then, the people who were interested in selling were trying to go for a kill,” Dangote continued.

“We backtracked, because we were very busy doing other things, especially our industrialisation.”

“They are doing well, but they need another strategic direction,” he added. “They need more direction than the current situation, where they just develop players and sell them.”

Stan Kroenke is Arsenal’s majority shareholder, with the American owning 66.64% of the club’s parent company, Arsenal Holdings plc.

- Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/i-am-ready-to-buy-arsenal-at-whatever-price-dangote/#sthash.0tVWrprW.dpuf

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Xenophobia follows Buhari's visit to South Africa

Shortly after the Nigerian's president paid a visit to Nigerians in  South Africa, xenophobic reports which was recently put to calm resurged.

  

The President of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, told newsmen in Pretoria, South Africa, that the Northern Cape Province Chapter Chairman of the Union reported the incident to its National Secretariat.

‘’ The National Secretariat of Nigeria Union has received report of xenophobic attacks from Mr Kennedy Osagie, the Northern Cape Province chapter chairman of the union. ‘’ The report indicated that South Africans attacked Nigerians. “ Two cars belonging to Nigerians have been reportedly burnt and they have been going from house to house looting and destroying their property,’’ he said.

Anyene, who said that there were 20 Nigerians living in the affected community, added that none had been reported dead in the incident. ‘’ Six Nigerians have taken refuge with their families in nearby SpringBok community and they do not know the whereabouts of the other Nigerians,’’ he said. He said that the Union had reported the incident to the Nigerian Consulate in South Africa.

Nigeria’s Consul General in South Africa, Amb. Uche Ajulu-Okeke, confirmed the incident, saying the mission had commenced investigations. ‘’ The Nigerian Consulate in South Africa has received report of new xenophobic attacks in Northern Cape Province of South Africa. ‘’ The mission has commenced investigation into the incident and will ensure that Nigerians are safe in South Africa,’’ she said

- Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/06/xenophobia-nigeria-union-reports-new-attacks-in-south-africa-2/#sthash.cy63PEtc.6ctBhL0Z.dpuf

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