After spending 11 years in South Africa, Lucky Otoikhila left behind his investments and family to save his life. He tells CHUKWUDI AKASIKE about surviving repeated xenophobic attacks, his determination to rebuild his life, and why no amount of persuasion will make him leave the country again
Tell us about yourself and life in South Africa?
I am a 49-year-old indigene of Edo State. I lived in South Africa for 11 years before returning to Nigeria. I have families in both countries. I was born and raised as a Muslim, and under my faith, I am permitted to marry up to four wives. My South African wife and our two children are still back there. I have three children in Nigeria.
My father is late, and my mum is alive. My siblings are all with me now. We are six, and I am the eldest.
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How would you describe life in South Africa?
It was rough and bloody because of the experience I had there. I faced xenophobic attacks, not once, not twice. That was before the present incident in that country. I was attacked by gun-wielding South Africans. They said their anger stemmed from the fact that we Nigerians were always with their women.
Even my passport was thrown into the bush by some armed South Africans, although I managed to search for and recover it. That was a few years ago. I think the incident happened in 2017. One of the South Africans pointed a revolver at me.
