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Properties of Foreigners Burnt, Protests Say No To Igbo Traditional Ruler
- Safiu Kehinde
Widespread violence in the Eastern Cape area of South Africa has led to burning of many properties belonging to foreigners in the country.
The mayhem stemmed from locals’ protests against the installation of a traditional ruler of Igbo extraction in a foreign land.
According to reports, the unrest followed the coronation of the Igbo leader, Solomon Ogbonna Eziko, as Igwe Ndigbo of South Africa.
Indigenous people have said that there is no room for an Igbo king in their land insisting that such luxury should be reserved for their home country.
NPO Reports that a video which had gone viral in South Africa showing an elaborate party with traditional events showing the installation ceremony was said to have angered locals who began to voice their opposition.
The controversial installation ceremony had attracted several Nigerians of Igbo extraction.
Protesting indigenes would in reaction gather in Eastern Cape Town with banners carrying different inscriptions to resist the installation.
Among the protesters were a group of women with a large inscription reading “No to Igbo King”.
Another clip showed hundreds of locals, armed with sticks, marching along the street of East Cape.
They were captured breaking the windscreens of parked vehicles while calling for the immediate deportation of the self-appointed Nigerian Igbo king.
Some of the marchers however called for calm and stoppage of vandalisation of cars.