The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on Thursday in Abuja staged a peaceful protest against renewed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

The students, led by their President, Mr Aruna Kadiri, while addressing newsmen at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja, urged the government to take concrete action to protect Nigerians in South Africa.

The students also demanded that Nigeria should severe ties with South Africa over the incessant attacks of its citizens in that country.

“We are demanding that they should break the ties between both countries if there’s any because the xenophobic attacks that had happened long time ago has come again.

“We have decided to clear the madness with madness,” he said.

He said they had burnt the South African flag at the High Commission to pass a message that “we don’t have a relationship with them any longer”.

The protesting students, who issued a 48-hour ultimatum to South African nationals to leave Nigeria, said they were earlier at MTN office in Maitama and Multi-Choice in the Central Business District of Abuja to express their grievances.

They also urged the High Commission officials to cancel the dinner organised in honour of Regina Tambo, the co-founder of ANC Youth League.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Clement Aduku, who addressed the protesting students, appealed for calmness, saying the federal government is constructively engaging the South African government over the issue.

Aduku also assured that all diplomatic means would be explored to stop the killings of Nigerian nationals in South Africa.