Abike Dabiri-Erewa calls for review of warning system in South-African killings

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has called for a review of early warning signals, EWS, mechanisms put in place by Nigeria and South African governments.

Reacting to the latest killings of Nigerians in South Africa, Dabiri-Erewa, who made the call in Abuja, said the EWS set up in 2017 did not appear particularly effective.

Early Warning Signal Unit, a multi-sectoral mechanism, was to afford Nigerians living in South Africa access to the agencies responsible for their safety and security, as well as the mandate to address their complaints in that country.

The membership of the Unit comprises the Nigerian Consulate, Nigeria High Commission, the leadership of the Nigerian community in South Africa, South African Ministry of Home Affairs, and South African Police.

The Unit would pave way for South Africans to work with law-abiding Nigerians, and also afford Nigerians the opening through which to give South African authorities information on criminal elements without getting a backlash.

Dabiri-Erewa, who expressed displeasure over the renewed killings of Nigerians in South Africa, said the present EWS mechanisms seemed to do little or nothing to prevent the occurrences of such killings.

A Nigerian, Okechukwu Henry, was stabbed to death in Middleburg Mpumalanga Province on May 3 by alleged locals who wanted to snatch his car from him.

Similarly, another Nigerian, Ebuka Udugbo, was allegedly killed by the Police, although officers claimed he committed suicide in their custody in Cape Town on April 28.

Another Nigerian, Mr. Tony Elochukwu, was shot dead in Witbank Mpumalanga province by unknown assailants on April 24, while three others were murdered at different locations between April 6 and April 24.