Senior Special Adviser to the President of Nigeria on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa has called on the African Union to urgently intervene in the renewed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa.

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa also urged the South African government to take decisive and definite measures to protect Nigerians and other African citizens within her boarders.

The SSA who made the call in a statement, described the recent xenophobic attacks on some Nigerians and other Africans who are resident in South Africa as a set back to the continent.

While urging restraint on the part of Nigerians, she however warned that further attacks without any reprimand may have dire consequences.

“We have lost about 116 Nigerians in the last two years and in 2016 alone, about 20 were killed. This is unacceptable to the people and government of Nigeria,” she said.

The Union of the Nigerian community in Pretoria west, South Africa, led by Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, has confirmed the attacks saying five buildings with Nigerian businesses including a church have been looted and burnt during the attacks.

According to Mr Anyene, the Union had already reported the case to the Nigeria mission in South Africa and the South Africa Police.

The SSA had two weeks earlier met with the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Aaron-Mnguni who said that the South African government was investigating the matter.