The xenophobic attacks on migrants in South Africa must necessarily give cause for worry. These were largely mob attacks with those involved carrying and wielding all manner of cudgels as they breathlessly pursued their targeted fellow human beings. It was horrifying seeing the mob in action on television and videos! And as reports claim, although Africans from some other countries were victims, the attacks were mainly directed at Nigerians.

After drawing up a list of transgressions against them, particularly Nigerians, Black South Africans embarked on an orgy of hate and destruction against Nigerians, fellow Black Africans. It was Blackman’s inhumanity to Blackman, curiously directed at citizens of the old frontline states. On Wednesday, the House of Representatives getting into the debate, made reference to combined efforts and pressure mounted by the frontline states in the days of liberation struggle to dismantle apartheid in the place. According to Babajimi Benson going down memory lane, Nigeria committed enormous diplomatic, political and financial resources to the liberation movement.

It is truly painful; it hurts seeing Nigerians disembarking from the aircraft clutching little children and few belongings typical of people fleeing a war zone. About 1,500 Nigerians were ferried back home, to safety. It is elating and reassuring that despite the pains, the House handled the issue maturely and reassuringly. It was also good that the Senate rejected Senator Adam Oshiomhole craving for an orgy of vengefulness against South African economic interests in Nigeria.

The attacks have been like a recurring decimal. The attack in South Africa first occurred in 2008, the second seven years later, that is 2015; then in 2017; in 2019 and yet another in 2021 and now in 2026. These are no doubt provocative and lend themselves to temptation of vengefulness. That cannot be the way to go.The Reps did very well. They have asked that the losses be computed, Nigeria must show leadership and the maturity that defines it. In 2019, Nigerians went on a destructive spree attacking Nigerian enterprises in which South Africans have substantial interests, what Lai Mohammed rightly and strongly condemned, seeing it as Nigerians shooting themselves in the foot. It was Nigerian companies that were being destroyed mindlessly and gleefully. These companies provide employment to thousands of Nigerians. They are not known to have broken our laws nor were they known to have instigated the attacks on Nigerians in South Africa. An account that year stated that in the weeks of hate on both sides of the divide that no fewer than 32 Nigerians had been killed when the figures of 2017 and 2019 were put together.

While our worry goes to the hapless victims of the xenophobic attacks, we would want to demonstrate greater concerns for the perpetrators of the evil, where we to have a faint idea of how the mechanisms that govern life and existence, the entire creation work. How many are convincingly aware that for every thought, every speech, how much more deeds, products of thoughts, there is responsibility? We are living in a world in which ignorance is bliss! But ignorance is no defence in the incorruptible and immutable Laws of Creation. What we believe is unimportant, once it is stamped with thought volition, the originator bears responsibility and sooner or much, much later he must render account. Why account? It may be asked. The way it works is that the pure power of the Creator streams unceasingly down to the world in invisible radiation threads holding, urging and furthering life and existence and our world. This pure power is neutral and we account to the minutest for the way and to what end we have used it.

What I am getting at is that South Africans who were involved in blind vengeful rage in the season of unreason have heaped truckloads of hot charcoal on their own heads.

To be concluded next week: We have driven away the fox, we may need to sit down with the hen. For every effect, there must be cause. What are the psychometrics of the crisis? We should look into this so that these painful experiences can be prevented from re-occurring.