The Nigerian government has said that the killing of Nigerians in South Africa during recent xenophobic attacks in the country, was “absolutely unacceptable”.

Speaking via his Tweeter handle, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo lamented that the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians living in South Africa were destroyed  despite the nation’s sacrifice in dismantling apartheid in the country.

Osinbajo made this declaration in a video posted on his verified Twitter handle on Tuesday.

“We will take this up with the authorities in South Africa in to ensure that this sort of thing does not repeat itself,” he said.

“It is absolutely unacceptable.

“It is sad and very unfortunate that the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians living in South Africa, are once again being destroyed with such wantonness carelessness and recklessness,” he added.

The Vice President added that the South Africans’ actions are a negation of the sacrifices made by the founding fathers of the nation.

He described them as “acts of bigotry” antagonising the “very ideals that all the great South African leaders including what Cyril Ramaphosa, present president fought for, and for which many gave their lives”.

Osinbajo reiterated that Abuja would take the issue up seriously with the the South African government to ensure that attacks are stopped.

“We will take all actions necessary for the protection of our citizens everywhere in the world,” he said.

The Vice President assured that the Federal Government was currently in consultation with the South African government on the urgent need to put in place measures to end those acts of violence against Nigerians.

South African government had denied that the attacks were xenophobic.

South Africa’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Bobby Monroe, said when he was summoned by the Federal Government on Tuesday that it was only “Sporadic act of violence”, and the attacks were not targeted at Nigerians.