Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Dalhatu Tafida, says there have been no negative reports on any Nigerian following the on-going riots in some parts of London.
Violence and looting which entered its third day on Tuesday are taking place in Hackney, Peckham, Croydon and Birmingham.
The riots had started after police shot Mark Duggan, a 29-year-old man in Tottenham on Saturday.
Hundreds of youths were seen attacking shops and setting fire on cars on Monday night in the areas.
But Tafida told the News Agency of Nigeria that “the situation is still on-going, though we have not heard any adverse reports about Nigerians, especially in those two areas (Hackney and Peckham) where we have the largest concentration of our nationals in the UK.’’
He added that the High Commission was “in touch with the members of the community through their leaders to ensure that Nigerians, wherever they reside, are safe.”
According to the 2001 UK census, Peckham is home to the largest Nigerian community in the UK with seven per cent of the population having been born there.
Many of the local establishments are Yoruba-owned, including churches and mosques.
The Chairman of the Central Association of Nigerians in the UK, Mr Bimbo Folayan, also assured that Nigerians in Hackney and Peckham were safe.
He said, “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.”
Folayan however dispelled the notion that the incident had a racial undertone.
The Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation, UK chapter, Mr Kayode Ogunsola, while expressing his 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.
Also, Mrs Janet Ojo, a trader in Dalston market, near Hackney, said traders had to close their shops for fear of being attacked by the hoodlums.
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