The Federal Government has assured Nigeria will not be engaged in reprisal attacks over xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
The fatal attacks on Nigerians have been on the increase in the past two days.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, spoke with State House correspondents after leading outgoing Ukraine and Sri Lanka ambassadors to Nigeria to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said that the government is also considering making compensations to the victims of the attack.
According to him, the Federal Government was also considering sending security agencies to South Africa to work closely with the South African police force over the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians.
He said: “Well, we have registered our protest to the Government of South Africa.
“More importantly, we put forward to them the things we think will make a big difference as regards compensation.”
Asked if Nigeria will be involved in reprisals attacks, he said “No, we don’t believe that two wrongs make a right.
“In terms of revenge attacks, South African Government has assured us that they are doing everything possible to address the situation.
“That they are equally exasperated by the whole event, so we believe that with that goodwill, we will be able to work together with them to put in place peace mechanism that we feel will make a difference.”
On the key issues to be discussed by the Special envoy to South Africa, he said: “Well, as I have said it, it’s going to be two issues -first of all is the compensation payment, then what security mechanism to put in place to ensure that this kinds of attacks do not occur.
“So we need to have a viable mechanism in place. And as I said, one of the possibilities that we have proposed is to have some Nigerian security operatives working with South African police force and attached to Nigerian High Commission.
“We believe that will be very important process to address this kind of thing and to preempt this kind of attack. Possibly for them to be also embedded within the police force of South Africa.”
