Nigeria, Feb. 7 -- The South African government has described safety concerns expressed by Nigeria as a false alarm.

"The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has learned about an unfortunate advisory issued by the High Commission of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Pretoria," the agency's spokesperson, Clayson Monyela, wrote in the statement.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa had earlier notified nationals living in South Africa of possible violent attacks following inflammatory comments made online by South Africans against Nigerians.

DIRCO added that the advisory is regrettable, because it seems to create alarm and unnecessary tension between the citizens of South Afr...