Nigerians residing in South Africa have cried out over renewed xenophobic threats from a notorious anti-migrant xenophobic group known as Operation Dudula, which has been at the forefront of coordinated intimidation of migrants since the beginning of the year, SaharaReporters says.
Nigerian women, especially those who are undocumented or claim foreign status, are among the people reportedly affected, with reports of women allegedly being denied access to public hospitals as members of Operation Dudula are blocking foreigners from public health services.
Multiple reports say women are giving birth on the bare floors outside hospital facilities without medical assistance or in places not intended to be delivery wards. Other reports include discharge without treatment, denial of immunisation services, etc.
Community leaders said the group has intensified harassment and attacks on foreigners, including attempts to bar them from accessing public hospitals. They are now calling on the Nigerian government and the international community to urgently intervene before the situation escalates into another round of deadly violence.
Reports indicate that Operation Dudula has been at the forefront of coordinated intimidation of migrants since the beginning of the year. Concerns are mounting that the group’s activities could trigger a repeat of the violent xenophobic outbreaks that claimed lives in previous years.
The president of the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa, Frank Onyekwelu, condemned the development, describing it as yet another wave of xenophobic attacks deliberately targeted at foreign nationals.
“We have cried out at this ill-treatment, which we see as another form of xenophobic attack, as they are expressing hate and injustice against foreign nationals. We are not happy with it,” he said.
Onyekwelu said the Nigerian community had already reached out to political groups and immigration bodies to express concerns. He urged both governments to intervene diplomatically.