The police has announced additional security measures have been approved for foreign embassies, missions and businesses across Nigeria.

The alert followed sporadic violence and looting of businesses by hoodlums across Nigeria. The hoodlums hijacked the widespread outrage being expressed by Nigerians against the xenophobic attacks in South Africa over the past week.

Several businesses, assumed to belong to South Africans, have been looted or destroyed in Lagos, Ibadan, Uyo and other parts of the country since Tuesday.

Inspector-General MUHAMMAD ADAMU said that foreigners across the country would be protected against further aggression, warning citizens to desist from any form of thuggery and vandalism.

Bandits in Katsina State have given Governor AMINU BELLO MASARI conditions for dialogue, insisting that the state government should release their members arrested and detained in various prisons across the country before they would accept to discuss with the government.

They also accused the Nigerian Army, police and other security agencies of fuelling banditry, kidnapping and other heinous crimes bedeviling the state.

The bandits, who spoke during a meeting with the governor and his officials, said some of their members were apprehended in villages across the state and detained for years without committing any offence.

Responding, MASARI assured the bandits that the state government would secure the release of their members in detention as part of effort to restore peace and normalcy in the state.

The South African high commission in Nigeria has shut down operations in the country.

The country’s acting High Commissioner, Ambassador BOBBY

MOROE says he has directed the Mission to suspend all consular activities until further notice.

This comes as thefederal government reiterated it will not condone continuous attack of Nigerians residing in South Africa.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, GEOFFREY ONYEAMA says Nigeria has drawn the red line and would explore all avenues to ensure the safety of its citizens residing in South Africa.

ONYEAMA,who said Nigeria would recall her ambassador to South Africa over the matter for a briefing, added that there is no going back on the measures taken against South Africa over the fresh attacks against Nigerians.

A coalition of civil society groups has protested the award of a $9.6 billion fine against Nigeria by a United Kingdom court following a botched gas deal.

The protesters gathered at the British and Irish Embassies in Abuja carrying various placards calling on authorities to promptly act on the matter.

The group is asking the court to overturn the judgement claiming it was politically motivated and that the private company involved did not follow due process in the oil contract deal.