Premium News
 The recent anti-immigrant riots in the United Kingdom have deeply affected many communities, especially black and Muslim migrants. The unrest began after the tragic stabbing of three young girls—Alice Dasilva Aguiar, 9, Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7, and Bebe King, 6—during a Taylor Swift-themed dance and yoga class in Southport, northwest England, in late July. The attack, which also left 10 others injured, shocked the nation and led to the arrest of a 17-year-old male as the suspected perpetrator. However, tensions escalated when rumors spread that the suspect was a black Muslim migrant. This unfounded claim ignited a wave of anti-immigrant protests, which quickly spiraled into violent riots across Britain, particularly targeting black and Muslim communities. Nigerians living in the UK have shared their experiences of how they managed to stay safe during this turbulent period. Many reported staying indoors and avoiding areas known for high tensions. Some communities organized neighborhood watch groups to provide mutual support and protection. Others relied on social media networks to stay informed about safe routes and places to avoid. The misinformation was parroted by some influential British politicians and social media personalities, including anti-Islam activist, Tommy Robinson. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was alleged to have stocked the violence after his involvement prompted several thousand far-right natives to start running amuck across the country. The protesters gathered near Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office on 10 Downing Street in Central London to protest. However, the demonstration soon turned riotous, leading to security agents arresting 100 suspects. But the riot quickly spread like wildfire, affecting more than 20 cities in the UK, including Sunderland, Plymouth, Belfast, and Manchester. The far-right protesters looted shops, attacked mosques, building housing asylum seekers, cars, and houses while calling for an end to the influx of illegal immigrants into their country. To stem the violence, Starmer made a national address and vowed that the rioters and everyone involved in stocking the violence would be arrested and speedily prosecuted. Meanwhile, some Nigerians have recounted their experience during the riots. Shola, a Nigerian student who works as a customer assistant at a retail store in Sunderland, recalled how he and his wife had to remain indoors for hours while a Police helicopter hovered over their house for over five hours. “Here in Sunderland, we witnessed the citizen advice office next to a police station set on fire. The police station was broken into. One of the most popular fast foods Greg’s was broken into. A bank NatWest was damaged. Police were attacked. “Over my own house, a police helicopter was hovering for over five hours. It started around six in the evening and things didn’t come back to normal until 1 am in the middle of the night,” he said. He said the far-right extremists targeted black Muslim migrants because of the misinformation about the identity of the arrested suspect, even though Police had come out to say the suspect was a British black Christian teenager. He revealed that a friend of his, who is a Christian residing in Middlesborough, had his home attacked by the rioters. “I have a friend in Middlesborough, whose house was stoned and his windows broken. He is Nigerian and he is Christian. The fact is that they said they are protesting the increase in the crime rate of Muslim immigrants because they felt that it was a black Muslim immigrant that killed these three little girls, but the police have come out to say it’s actually a British black Christian,” he added. But the situation is different for Janet, another Nigerian whose house is located on the street where the first protest took place. “I wasn’t around when it happened. I had to leave before it started because it started in my street, and I didn’t return until everything died down,” she said. Janet said she fled home before the initial protest got underway after words got around that it could snowball into chaos. “It was a planned ‘peaceful’ protest. The information was spread all over that there will be one. The meeting point was a park like a stone’s throw from my house. “Taxi drivers that knew how the far-right extremists can be already told people of colour to stay at home or avoid the areas as much as possible,” she stated. Janet’s experience is similar to that of Mayor, a Liverpool resident who was also out of town when the riots erupted. “I didn’t experience it in person because I wasn’t in the city when it happened. I just got back and things are calm now,” he said. Manchester resident, Yemi said his area wasn’t affected by the riots but noted all black people and Muslims were being cautious of their movement because of the heightened tension. “Nothing really happened at my end but one needs to be very careful of their movement. It’s advisable that people go out in groups and avoid some places due to how volatile they can be. “The riots were largely peaceful in Manchester but places like Piccadilly should be avoided until the matter dials down,” he said. | |
About Dons Eze
Check Also
POVERTY IN NIGERIA ASSUMES WORSE DIMENSION – PETER OBI
POVERTY IN NIGERIA ASSUMES WORSE DIMENSION – PETER OBI Presidential Candidate of Labour Party in …