Members of the House of Representatives have condemned the xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.

The lawmakers also passed a resolution urging the Presidency to recall Nigeria’s ambassador to South Africa ahead of a major anti-Nigerians rally planned for Friday.

The resolution followed a motion by Rita Orji, a lawmaker from Lagos State, who said that Nigerians were being unjustly targeted in South Africa.

Another lawmaker, Sergius Ogun, noted that the situation was worrisome. He wondered why Nigerians were being poorly treated in South Africa despite Nigeria’s outstanding contributions towards ending the South African Apartheid regime.

“I want us as a House to condemn it and I also want our government to take a stand on it,” Ogun said.

“How can we say that we are the giant of Africa when in other African countries, our citizens are being killed?”

Also contributing to the motion, Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, an Abia State lawmaker, said that Nigeria must adopt extra-diplomatic measures in dealing with the latest deadly assaults.

Minority Leader of the House, Leo Ogor, called on all stakeholders to as a matter of urgency find lasting solutions to the xenophobic attacks against Africans in South Africa, adding that enough is enough.

“This isn’t the first time this is happening. South Africans continue to kill Nigerians for no justifiable reason and this is completely unacceptable,” he said.

Ogor added that the South African government must live up to the responsibility of securing lives and properties within its borders.

It would be recalled that at least 20 Nigerians were killed in similar attacks in South Africa in 2016.

The South African government has on many occasions condemned the attacks, and as part of efforts to stop the violence, the government said it will introduce the teaching of history in schools to help citizens of the country to appreciate the roles Nigeria and other African countries played during the apartheid struggle.