National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South-West Zone D, has threatened to stage protests and picket South African business interests in Nigeria following renewed xenophobic attacks that have reportedly claimed the lives of Nigerians.

In a statement, the students’ body expressed outrage over what it described as a recurring pattern of violence against Nigerians residing in South Africa.

The statement, signed by the Coordinator of the zone, Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, said the recent killing of two Nigerians underscores the persistent insecurity faced by foreign nationals in the country.

NANS said it would mobilise its members for peaceful demonstrations and mass advocacy targeting major South African-linked companies operating in Nigeria, including MTN Group and MultiChoice Group.

According to NANS, the safety and dignity of Nigerians abroad must be guaranteed, stressing that silence or delayed responses from authorities would not be acceptable.

The group, however, said it remains open to dialogue and constructive engagement with South African business representatives and diplomatic channels to address the crisis.

It warned that Nigerian students would not stand by while their compatriots continue to face threats to their lives, urging decisive action to prevent further attacks.

ALSO, the Catholic bishops in Africa have urged the government to quickly tame the violence, amid reports of deaths and injuries.

President of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, known as SECAM, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, condemned the violence as un-African.

Cardinal Ambongo said SECAM is “deeply concerned” about the recent events, which “have been marked by acts of xenophobic violence against nationals of other African countries.”

The clerics noted that such attacks were not new since the end of apartheid in South Africa, but added that fears have mounted as the latest wave continued to surge.

Since late April, mobs — armed with clubs, machetes and spears — have been seen marching through the streets of key cities, demanding the departure of foreign nationals from other African countries. The protesters are rallying around the lack of jobs, high unemployment and insecurity.

The cardinal expressed “fraternal and ecclesial solidarity” with the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference “for its prophetic stance in support of African migrants who are victims of discrimination and xenophobia,” and extended SECAM’s sympathy “to all victims of this violence and to their families, who have been severely affected.”

South African Catholic bishops have frequently condemned the violence, describing it as acts against human dignity.