Xenophobic attack: Niger Delta militants threaten to shutdown MTN, Dstv, others

A coalition of Niger Delta militants on Wednesday threatened to blow up Multichoice (DSTV), MTN, Shoprite and 16 other major South African investments in Nigeria if the Federal Government failed to close them down within one month. The militant groups, who were reacting to the ongoing xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and their businesses, gave one month ultimatum to South Africans living in Nigeria to relocate. The threat from the militant groups namely, Niger Delta Watchdogs, Niger Delta Volunteers and Niger Delta Strike Force is contained in a copy of a letter addressed to the Office of the South African High Commission to Nigeria located at 71, Usuma Street, Off Gana Street, Abuja. Signatories to the letter are General John Duku (Niger Delta Watchdogs), General Ekpo Ekpo (Niger Delta Volunteer) and General Hart Bradford (Niger Delta Strike Force). In the letter titled ‘Attack and Killings of Nigerians Living in South Africa’, the militants expressed anger that the South African Police were shielding criminals and joining them (criminals) to kill Nigerians. Apart from MTN, DSTV and Shoprite, some of the South African companies in Nigeria listed for attack by the militants are Eskom Nigeria, South African Breweries (SAB Miller), Umgeni Water, Refresh Product, LTA Construction and Protea Hotels. Others, according to the letter, are Critical Rescue International, Global Outdoor Semces, PEP Retail Stores, Woolworths Holdings Limited, Truworths International Limited, Clover Industries, Oracle, Power Giant and Airtime. The militants said, “Arising from the joint meeting of the Niger Delta Watchdogs, Niger Delta Volunteers and Niger Delta Strike Force held today (Wednesday) in Port Harcourt, we condemn the recent attack on Nigerians in South Africa. We want to state that the recent attack (on Nigerians in South Africa) will mark the end of this nonsense because we will not fold our arms and allow this to continue. We, therefore, call on the Nigerian Government to immediately close down all the businesses owned by South Africans in Nigeria. Failure to close down these companies within one month, we shall mobilise in full force and commence massive attack on the above mentioned South African- owned investments in Nigeria. We shall also make sure that all MTN masts and offices are brought down to naught. We shall strike any property and persons from South Africa within our reach; we will bring down Multichoice (DSTV), Shoprite and others. We will not fold our arms and watch you (South Africans) slaughter our people like chickens for no just cause. We are fully prepared; our professional fighters are already strategising, South Africans must be crushed in Nigeria; our people must be free from these wicked agents.”

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