The Federal Government of Nigeria has blamed South Africa’s police for the killing of two Nigerians in the former apartheid enclave.
The government threatened to take action if the authorities in Pretoria failed to address the lingering killings occasioned by xenophobic attacks.
In a statement issued yesterday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the government named one of the victims as Emeka Charles Iroegbu.
He was reportedly killed by Tshwane Metro Police officers on 28th June, 2026, in Sunnyside, Pretoria, using gruesome interrogation techniques.
On 20th April, 2026, these same officers were allegedly responsible for the extra-judicial killing of another Nigerian, Mr Nnaemeka Mathew Andrew Ekpenyong. His case is still pending; no arrests have been made, even though the four officers involved are known to the South African Police Service (SAPS).
According to the statement, the second victim, Mr Musa Yunana Joe, popularly known as Big Joe, was killed in front of his shop on 28th June, 2026, in Witbank, Mpumalanga, by yet-to-be-identified criminals.
The Nigerian government said these two killings came at a time when foreigners were being unduly targeted in South Africa.
Ebienfa said, “This raises questions about deliberate attempts by some elements to wrongfully generalise and tag well-meaning, hard-working and respectable Nigerians as criminals. It also raises further questions over the general safety of Nigerians and other foreigners in South Africa.
“The continuing pattern of such terrible incidents is clearly evidence of complicity on the part of security operatives, especially officers of the Tshwane Metro Police, which raises the question of state responsibility under International Law. The recorded data collated by our Missions lays the grounds for criminal liability. It is a fact that South Africa currently has one of the highest rates of crime globally, including the culture of looting and mob action,” the statement said.
The ministry, therefore, called on the South African authorities to conduct urgent investigations into the two killings and several other pending cases of extra-judicial killings of Nigerian nationals in South Africa, and ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crimes are brought to justice without further delay.
The government reiterated that Nigerians are more civil in their engagements with foreign nationals and always uphold the rule of law when dealing with illegalities, stressing that it is unfair to target foreigners and make them scapegoats for endemic socio-economic conditions that need to be addressed by the authorities.
“The Government of Nigeria wishes to reiterate the fact that there are numerous South African nationals and businesses operating safely in Nigeria without harassment of any kind. Likewise, it is the responsibility of the South African Government to protect the lives and properties of all foreigners, including Nigerian nationals, living in the country.
“Therefore, the systematic targeting of Nigerian nationals who are legally residing in South Africa is not acceptable and their safety should be guaranteed.
“We wish to place the Government of South Africa on notice that if the situation persists, all options remain on the table, some of which will be activated if the uncultured and provocative trend of intolerance and apartheid-style behaviour of South Africa against foreigners is not addressed,” the Nigerian government warned.
The Nigerian government also expressed great concern over the recently televised public statement by the spokesperson of the South African Government, asking Nigerians leaving the country due to the ongoing xenophobic protests to show where they hide illegal drugs.
“The unguarded public statements are unacceptable and are strongly condemned. Such derogatory, unprofessional and uncensored generalised public statements by highly placed government officials constitute hate speech that influences and incites negative and criminal actions against members of the Nigerian community.
“The gang leaders of groups such as March on March and Operation Dudula, who incite violence and hate against fellow Africans, will also be held to account as a matter of regional and international criminal liability,” the statement said.
The federal government sympathised with the families and associates of the deceased, adding that it would continue to engage the highest authorities in South Africa until justice is served, even as it appealed to Nigerians to remain calm, law-abiding and security conscious, especially due to the ongoing xenophobic and afrophobic demonstrations in that country.
