London riots: Nigerian High Commissioner says Nigerians are safe

London riots: Nigerian High Commissioner says Nigerians are safe

The Nigerian government has been assured of the safety of Nigerians in the United Kingdom, where riots and vandalism has spread to new areas.

Nigerian High Commissioner to United Kingdom, Dr Dalhatu Tafida, gave the assurance on Tuesday while addressing reporters in London.

“The situation is still on-going, though we have not heard any adverse reports about Nigerians especially in those two areas where we have the largest concentration of our nationals in the UK,’’ Tafida said.

“We are also in touch with the members of the community through their leaders to ensure that Nigerians, wherever they reside, are safe,’’ the envoy added.

Home to Nigerian community

According to the 2001 UK census, Peckham, one of the cities affected by the riot, served as home to the largest Nigerian community in the UK with seven per cent of the population having been born in the country.

Report says that many of the local establishments are Yoruba-owned, including churches and mosques.

However, the Chairman of the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK (CANUK), Mr Bimbo Folayan, gave the assurance that Nigerians in Hackney and Peckham were safe.

“I can assure you that no Nigerian is affected or involved at the moment in the incidents. We are in touch with the community leaders in these areas and as the event keeps unfolding we will get the public informed,’’ he said.

Racial undertone

However, Folayan dispelled the notion that the incident had a racial undertone.

The Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), UK Chapter, Mr Kayode Ogunsola, while expressing sadness at the act of vandalism and destruction, called for investigation into the incident.

“The alleged shooting by the police, which led to the riot in Tottenham, needs to be investigated and necessary action taken to ensure that fatal incidents that led to loss of lives are avoided,’’ he said.

“The government has called for peace and the security agencies are already taking remedial action. So, we are hopeful that the situation will soon be brought under control,’’ he added.

The riot

The riots had come up after police shot Mark Duggan, a 29-year-old father in Tottenham on Saturday.

Hundreds of youths were seen attacking shops and setting fire on cars on Monday night in the areas.

Information gathered revealed that violence and looting have continued to spread on the third day to four of London’s areas, including Hackney, Peckham, Croydon and Birmingham.

NAN/Shakira/Williams