News
We feel unsafe during riots – Nigerians in UK
Nigerians living in the United Kingdom have expressed fear over the recent attacks on immigrants in the country, saying they feel threatened and unsafe.
Britain has been plunged into a series of protests that erupted early last week following the death of three young girls in a knife attack in Southport, northwest England.
The police arrested a 17-year-old male as the suspected killer of the victim. However, rumour soon spread that the suspect was an Islamist migrant.
Consequently, several thousand far-right natives gathered near Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Downing Street office in Central London to protest.
The protest soon turned into riots as security agents arrested 100 suspects.
There have been riots in more than 20 cities across Britain, including Sunderland, Plymouth and Belfast.
Protesters attacked mosques, buildings housing asylum seekers, cars and houses, including a library, which was set ablaze. Shops were also looted.
Starmer warned that the rioters would be sentenced within a week.
Despite the assurance given, some Nigerians told Saturday PUNCH that the rioters targeted immigrants, and some homes belonging to Nigerians were attacked.
A Nigerian engineer living in London, Toyyib Adelodun said, “London has been generally safe, but the Nigerian community is feeling unsafe in places where the riots were intense like Middlesborough and Plymouth. We have reported attacks on some Nigerian homes and some people couldn’t leave their houses for some days.”
Another Nigerian IT professional, Dr Evelyn Okpanachi, blamed the riot on misinformation.
“It’s deeply saddening to witness the rise in violence in the UK, especially the unjust targeting of immigrants. Misinformation has fueled unrest across cities. While law enforcement is doing its best to intervene, more must be done to end this violence,” Okpanachi added.
Another Nigerian student at Cambridge University, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Black British were not excluded from the attacks.
The source said, “I feel threatened because it is targeted towards immigrants. Even the immigrants who are already citizens are also targeted because they are not whites. I feel threatened because it’s been violent and lives have been lost.”
Also, a senior lecturer in London, Dr Oyedele Ogundana said, “As a Nigerian and a person of colour, it’s natural to feel concerned for one’s safety and that of loved ones. Nonetheless, we remain hopeful that peace will be restored.”
But a realtor, Maxwell Adeyemi, who lives in Bradford, said the unrest did not get to the ward, adding that there was peace in the area.
He said, “The tension has created panic almost everywhere in the UK. However, my area in West Yorkshire, the city of Bradford is calm. I can say it’s the headquarters of immigrants in the UK.”
The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, assured that Nigerians in the UK are safe.
Montgomery spoke on Wednesday during a meeting with the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
The envoy said, “We will not, as a country, accept discrimination or attacks against any community.”
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has disclaimed a purported recruitment announcement for the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), warning the public against falling victim to fraudulent schemes.
In a statement released on its official X handle (formerly Twitter) on Friday evening, the oil company clarified that no separate recruitment process was ongoing for PHRC beyond the one initiated in 2024.
The statement, titled “NNPC Ltd Disclaims Purported Recruitment Announcement for PHRC,” was signed by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye.
“The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has urged members of the public to discountenance purported recruitment announcement for the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) circulating in certain online platforms,” the statement read.
NNPC Ltd further explained that its recruitment process, which commenced last year, covered all its subsidiaries, including PHRC. The company noted that candidates who passed the Computer-Based Aptitude Test were proceeding to the interview stage.
“The purported recruitment link being circulated in various online platforms is the handiwork of fraudsters who are keen on taking advantage of the newly revamped Port Harcourt Refinery to fleece unsuspecting members of the public with a phantom recruitment announcement. We, therefore, call on members of the public to be wary of the ploy and not fall for it,” the statement warned.
The Adamawa State Muslims Pilgrims Welfare Commission has disbursed N61,080 to each of the 2023 pilgrims from the state over poor services rendered to them by the service providers while in Saudi Arabia.
The executive secretary of the pilgrims commission, Malam Abubakar Salihu, disbursed the refunded money, saying it was a step of accountability.
The disbursement was paid into the account of the pilgrims or, for those without account numbers, through the local government schedule officers of the 21 local governments of the state.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Alhaji Shuaibu Musa Mele appreciated the commission for ensuring that each pilgrim gets his rightful refund.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia had earlier refunded money through the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, for sharing among the 36 states of the country.
A school building in Fakai village, reportedly used as a food storage facility by the notorious bandit leader Bello Turji, has been destroyed.
The facility, which had been stocked with large quantities of food supplies, was completely razed, leaving the structure in ruins.
According to local sources, the school was repurposed by the bandits to support their operations in the region.
It served as a key logistical hub for storing essential supplies, ensuring the group’s ability to sustain its activities over time.
The destruction of the stockpile is seen as a major setback for Bello Turji’s network. By eliminating a critical resource hub, the operation is expected to disrupt the group’s supply chain and hinder their ability to operate effectively in the area.
Counter-terrorism expert Zagazola Makama reported that the incident underscores ongoing efforts to counter the influence and operations of bandit groups in the region.
Residents of Fakai village and surrounding areas hope this effort signals further strides toward restoring peace and security.
I received N80m tax bill after revealing my weekly income – Food critic Opeyemi Famakin
Panic in Kaduna village after suspected cattle rustlers’ attack, over 20 killed
Port Harcourt refinery: NNPCL disowns recruitment notice
Just in: Terrorists ambush military truck, kill all soldiers on board
Nigerian Dancer, Korra Obidi Attacked with acid, stabbed on stage In UK
Meet Rare Gem 16 Years Old Chiaza, CEO of ‘RUN MARKET PLACE’
-
News21 hours agoJust in: Again , Petrol Price Increases To N1150 Per Litre Nationwide
-
News21 hours agoSad: Ex-Delta First Lady, former beauty queen, dies in London hospital
-
News21 hours agoUK Court Jails 35-yr-old Nigerian 10 Yrs After Brutal R3pe Of Woman In Nottingham
-
News21 hours agoSEE Dollar (USD) to Naira Black Market Rate Today January 18, 2025 Aboki
-
News12 hours agoJust in: Gov Soludo reveals those behind kidnapping in SE, says it’s now a lucrative biz
-
News17 hours agoPolice declare Ex-President Jonathan’s aide , Reno Omokri wanted
-
News14 hours agoSad! Train Crushes Man To D3ath In Oshodi, Lagos
-
Politics14 hours agoJust in: Senator Nwoko reportedly dumps PDP for APC