Akwa Ibom indigenes living in South Africa have appealed to Governor Umo Eno for emergency assistance following reported xenophobic attacks that have affected their businesses, homes and sources of livelihood.
The appeal was made by the Akwa Ibom Indigenes Organisation in South Africa (AKIOSA), which said hundreds of members of the community had been affected by the violence.
In a letter to the governor, AKIOSA President, Dr Akaninyene F. Willie, described the situation as increasingly difficult for affected families, with some reportedly displaced and struggling to secure accommodation and meet basic needs.
According to the organisation, traders and artisans have suffered significant losses following the alleged looting and destruction of businesses. Professionals and other members of the community have also expressed concerns over their safety and ability to continue working.
“We’ve lost everything,” the group said while calling for immediate government intervention.
AKIOSA is asking the Akwa Ibom State Government to establish an emergency sustenance and stabilisation fund to provide assistance for food, medical expenses and other urgent needs.
The group also wants temporary housing and rental support for displaced residents, alongside grants for traders and artisans whose businesses were damaged. Such funding, it said, would enable affected individuals to replace equipment, restock their businesses and begin rebuilding their livelihoods.
Willie acknowledged the efforts of the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Eno on Diaspora Matters, Linda Akon Umoh, in engaging with affected indigenes but argued that the scale of the reported losses now required direct financial support from the state government.
The organisation also highlighted the contributions of Akwa Ibom indigenes in South Africa through remittances and professional expertise in areas including healthcare, education, information technology and various trades.
The appeal comes amid wider concerns over xenophobic violence and the safety of Nigerians living in South Africa. Some Nigerian nationals have also called for further evacuation assistance amid fears over continued attacks.
AKIOSA said urgent intervention would help affected families stabilise their lives and protect investments built over the years, while strengthening the state government’s engagement with its diaspora community.
