#Xenophobia: Nigerian mechanic who lost ‘N240m worth of cars’ in S/Africa cries for help.

Simon Adeoye, a Nigerian automobile mechanic based in South Africa, on Tuesday said he lost N240.650m (R10m) worth of cars in the recent Xenophobic attack.

Speaking with NAN on telephone from Pretoria, South Africa, Adeoye said some of the cars belonged to South Africans, while others were being repaired for sale.

He explained that on the day of the incident, he got a call that his workshop had been set ablaze, and he rushed to the place to see what was left of the place.

“By the time I got there, 29 cars of different make, some Nigerian passports, documents of the workshop, money and other personal effects had been destroyed by fire,” he said.

“I was helpless and could not do anything… I appeal to the federal government to assist me get back to business. Officials of the Nigerian mission have visited the workshop to do an assessment and we are yet to hear from them.

“At the moment, I have lost everything I have. I need urgent help to re-start my business. This will also assist me pay my workers who have families to carter for.”

He appealed to the mission to provide replacement for the passports gutted by fire to enable affected Nigerians have documents.

Meanwhile, Mathapelo Peters, spokeswoman of South African, said at least 20 shops possibly belonging to immigrants, were looted in the country’s capital overnight.

Peters said the motive for the latest attacks were unknown, and no deaths had been reported.

“There are allegations that these shops belong to foreign nationals,” she said.

“It is alleged that the community members are saying that these shops were used for drug dealing but that is unconfirmed.

“We will only be able to start a formal investigation once the shop owners come forward.”

The Atteridgeville neighbourhood, where the looting took place, was calm on Tuesday as police cars drove through the streets.

An unemployed man in his mid-twenties, who declined to be named, said: “we are sick and tired of foreigners who are coming to sell drugs and kill our people, we can’t let the community go down like this.”

South Africa, with a population of about 50 million, is home to an estimated 5 million immigrants.

In 2008, at least 67 people were killed in anti-immigrant violence, with thousands of people fleeing to refugee camps.

 

Source: The Cable

Mob Amputates Mechanic For Stealing N10k In Lagos

Ajegunle, a Lagos suburb also known as the Jungle, after an angry mob amputated a 25-year old mechanic, Seun Adisa, for allegedly stealing N10,000. The incident happened at Ajegunle, a suburb of Lagos State.

Kwara State-born Adisa was allegedly caught in the early morning after robbers invaded Mokoya street in Olodi Apapa, an extension of Ajegunle in Lagos State, and carted away valuables.

Adisa was reportedly caught and searched while the robbers were escaping and was found with some stolen items.

 

P.M.News gathered that a resident brought out a cutlass and cut off his right arm and when he was about to cut off one of his legs the police came and they handed him over to them.

The police alleged that Adisa and other members of his gang who are now at large, allegedly broke into the home of Augustine Enijore and stole the N10,000 he kept in the house including a wrist watch and necklace.

Adisa was brought to court on Monday with his right hand covered with bandage and when he was arraigned, he pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Magistrate, Mr T.A. Aborenwa granted him bail in the sum of N50,000 with one surety in like sum. He was ordered to be remanded in custody pending when he will perfect the bail.

However, because of the injury he sustained, the prison officials rejected Adisa and insisted that they needed medical report before they would accept him as an inmate. Adisa was taken back to police custody pending when the report will be ready.

Pm News