Nigeria’s High Commissioner-designate to South Africa, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has demanded urgent action from the South African Government following the reported killings of two Nigerians in Johannesburg.
Fani-Kayode said the deaths of Bishop Michael Taiwo Fakunle and James Uchechukwu Nwankwo had raised fresh concerns over the safety of Nigerians living in South Africa.
Reacting to the killings in a statement made available to Tribune, Fani-Kayode said he was “mortified and deeply shocked”, warning that Nigeria’s patience over the situation was wearing thin.
Fakunle was allegedly shot dead at his home in Johannesburg on September 4 after reportedly receiving a series of threats.
Nwankwo reportedly died on September 5 following what Fani-Kayode described as “gruesome interrogation techniques” by officers of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Fani-Kayode: Eight Nigerians killed this year
According to Fani-Kayode, the two deaths bring to eight the number of Nigerians allegedly murdered in South Africa in 2026.
He claimed four of the eight cases involved South African police officers.
“Bishop Fakunle and Mr. Nwankwo are the seventh and eighth Nigerians to have been murdered in South Africa this year alone. No less than four amongst the eight were murdered by South African police officers,” he said.
Fani-Kayode further claimed that more than 100 Nigerians had been killed in South Africa since 2022, including more than 30 allegedly killed by personnel of the SAPS and the South African Defence Force.
He expressed concern that, despite repeated complaints by Nigerian authorities, nobody had been arrested, prosecuted or brought to justice over the alleged killings.
“What is most disturbing is the fact that in spite of our constant expressions of concern about this disturbing state of affairs, not one person has been arrested, detained, prosecuted or brought to justice for any of these heinous crimes,” he said.
“This is unacceptable.”
Fani-Kayode demands protection for Nigerians
The High Commissioner-designate called on the South African Government to intensify efforts to protect Nigerian nationals and prosecute anyone responsible for their deaths.
“We call on the South African Government to do far more to protect our nationals and to bring those that have killed or are planning to kill them to justice,” he said.
“No-one deserves to be targeted and murdered simply because they are Nigerian.”
Fani-Kayode said the Nigerian community in South Africa was “deeply disturbed” and living in fear over what could happen next.
He added that the Nigerian Mission in South Africa was equally concerned about the situation.
Fresh deadline for African nationals condemned
Fani-Kayode also condemned what he described as a fresh September 30 deadline issued to African nationals, including Nigerians, to leave South Africa.
He said the deadline was issued by South African non-governmental organisations, which he accused of being “brazenly racist, xenophobic and Afrophobic”.
The former minister urged the South African Government to protect Nigerians from what he described as the excesses of the organisations and their members.
“We call on the South African Government to protect our people from the excesses of these racist organisations and their misguided members and to apply the full weight of the law against them for their lawless behaviour,” he said.
He also called for the prosecution of individuals responsible for allegedly “traumatising, terrorising, torturing and killing” Nigerians.
Bilateral relations at risk
Fani-Kayode said Nigeria remained committed to strengthening its relationship with South Africa but warned that continued killings and discrimination against Nigerians could damage bilateral ties.
“Whilst we seek to establish stronger and deeper ties with the South African Government, one thing remains clear. If this vicious cycle of discrimination against and killing of our nationals does not stop, there will be consequences,” he said.
“Simply put, our patience is wearing thin.”
He added: “South Africans are not targeted and killed in Nigeria by our people or our security forces. The least the South African Government can do is to reciprocate this gesture, protect our nationals and address our legitimate concerns.”
Fani-Kayode condoled with the families and associates of Fakunle and Nwankwo and prayed for the repose of their souls.
