More Nigerians killed in South Africa as violence continues

Two more Nigerians have been killed in South Africa as attacks and harassment of black foreigners go on.

This brings the total number of Nigerians killed in the recent wave of xenophobic violence in the country to seven.

The Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg announced the deaths in a statement on Friday.

The victims, Uchechukwu Nwankwo and Taiwo Fakunle, were “gruesomely murdered” last weekend, according to the consulate.

Taiwo Fakunle was killed last Friday, 4 September, in his home in Johannesburg. His killers have not been identified yet.

“The report of this incident is one too many and has caused the family of the deceased, the Nigerian community, and diplomatic missions in South Africa much shock and pain,” the consulate said.

The second Nigerian, James Nwankwo, was killed by the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Somerset West, Cape Town, a day later. He is the sixth Nigerian whose death has been linked to South African security officials since the wave of xenophobic violence began in April.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that two Nigerians, Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew, were killed by South African National Defence Force (SANDF) officials in April.

Another Nigerian, Emeka Iroegbu, was murdered in June. Then on 23rd July, a Nigerian named Ibeh Simon was killed during a SAPS operation in Bellville, Cape Town.

“The unfortunate incidents raised questions over the safety of Nigerians and other foreigners in South Africa,” the consulate said in the statement on Friday.

“The deaths are coming at a time when foreigners are still being targeted in the country, which also raises questions about what seems to be a deliberate attempt by some elements to generalise and tag well-meaning, respectable Nigerians in the country as criminals,” it added.

Investigations into these cases are still ongoing, and no arrests have been made in recent months.

The consulate urged the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to “expedite their investigations and establish the facts surrounding this incident and bring the perpetrators of the gruesome act to justice.”

In a statement released a few hours later, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it viewed the “incident with grave concern and condemns it in the strongest terms possible.”

The ministry said it is “extremely worrisome” that in South Africa, security officials meant to protect are “resorting to unacceptable interrogation techniques” that are leading to the deaths of foreigners.

It called on “the relevant South African authorities to immediately start thorough and transparent investigations into the circumstances surrounding the two killings,” and hold the perpetrators accountable.

South Africa’s anti-foreigner campaign began in April, with videos of citizens attacking other Africans spreading online.

The arbitrary 30 June deadline for African foreigners to leave the country raised tensions even more.

Many African countries have repatriated their citizens so far, including Nigeria, Ghana, Mozambique, Malawi, and Zimbabwe.