The Management of Shoprite Mall in Owerri, the Imo State capital, has shut the Mall to forestall possible attack by aggrieved Nigerians in reprisal to the killing of Nigerians in South Africa.
Armed Policemen have also cordoned off the premises to forestall possible breakdown of law and order.
Also heavily police were in the state capital were MTN, DSTV and GoTV offices, as well as other businesses with South African interests.
Policemen barricaded the entry gate and turned back all vehicles.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Orlando Ikeokwu, a Superintendent of Police, said that the Police took the deployed officers to businesses with South African interests to prevent breakdown of law and order in the state.
He said that the condoning off was the offshoot of the protest by Nigerians following the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.