Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani has responded to renewed accusations by South African officials against Nigerians over drug trafficking, pointing to the arrest of a South African national at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja as evidence that the issue is more complex.
South African Woman Arrested With 5.75kg of Heroin
Jessica Ann Will, a 38-year-old South African woman, was arrested on July 6 after investigators found she was allegedly attempting to bring 5.75 kilogrammes of heroin into Nigeria. Authorities said she was travelling with her three-year-old son, whom she reportedly used as a cover to avoid suspicion. The arrest was made by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Context: South African Minister's Accusations
The arrest followed comments by South Africa's Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni. During discussions on Nigeria's demand for compensation over xenophobic attacks on Nigerian-owned properties, she told Nigerian officials that South Africa would rather know where Nigerians were 'holding the drugs so that we can clean the drugs in South Africa quite urgently.'
Shehu Sani's Response
Sani, writing on his verified X account on Sunday, July 12, turned the South African minister's framing back on the accusers. He noted that the bust at Abuja airport undermined the blanket narrative targeting Nigerians.
'Most people in South Africa have been pointing accusing fingers on Nigerians over drug trafficking in their country, and they may not be completely wrong. Today, a South African woman is nabbed in our country trying to smuggle hard drugs. South Africans rushed to cast the First Stone on Nigerians while concealing their 5.75kg of Sin,' Sani wrote.
Online Reactions
The senator's comments drew a range of responses from Nigerians online. @Sholami4 argued: 'They had to come up with something against Nigeria for taking over their properties and businesses, even when those allegations are not valid and exaggerated.'
@jgoldmonye offered a more layered take: 'Nigerians don't push drugs to South Africa; it is South Africans that are doing the business, though some foreign nationals, which may include jobless Nigerians and other nationals, may be employed by barons to help them run the street errands.'
@Clouds58929908 raised a question about the arrested suspect's connections: 'That SA woman was sent by your BROTHERS here in SA. Interrogate her thoroughly.'
@KingEmm55706302 linked the arrest to a broader pattern: 'Senator, sir, this is more than hilarious. We initially thought that Nigerians are the problem, but ironically we discovered that South African police are in the business of planting drugs on vulnerable Nigerians just to extort them. This woman has exposed a lot.'
Air Peace Evacuation Mission
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Air Peace completed its second evacuation mission from South Africa, returning 271 Nigerians and bringing the total number evacuated from xenophobia-related distress situations to 533. Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan commended the airline for placing national interest above commercial considerations, describing the operation as a humanitarian achievement that demonstrated patriotism, compassion, and responsibility toward Nigerians abroad.
