Over 100 Nigerians Murdered In South Africa Within 5 Years – Fani-Kayode

By Innocent Odoh, Igho Oyoyo & Samson Elijah, Abuja

Nigeria’s High Commissioner-Designate to South Africa Femi-Fani Kayode  has warned that the Nigerian  government would take action against the incessant killing of Nigerians in the former apartheid enclave.

This followed the recent killing of two Nigerian citizens based in South Africa by unknown assailants as well as the police amid many other reported cases of Nigerians being killed and their property looted in the waves of xenophobic attacks in the country.

In a statement yesterday, the envoy said he was mortified and deeply shocked to hear about the murder of Bishop Michael Taiwo Fakunle by unknown elements in Johannesburg on September 4th.  He noted that after issuing a series of threats his killers went to his home and shot him dead.

FFK equally expressed shock over the murder of Mr. James Uchechukwu Nwankwo by officers of the South African Police Service again in Johannesburg on September 5th.  Nwankwo died as a consequence of what has been described as “gruesome interrogation techniques” by the South African police, FFK said.

“Bishop Fakunle and Mr. Nwankwo are the 7th and 8th Nigerians to have been murdered in South Africa this year alone.  No less than 4 amongst the 8 were murdered by South African police officers.

“Outside of that over 100 Nigerian nationals have been murdered in South Africa between 2022 and today and over 30 of them were killed by officers of the South African Police Service and South African Defence Force.

“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.

This is unacceptable,” he added.

He warned that whilst Nigeria seeks to establish stronger and deeper ties with the South African Government if this vicious cycle of discrimination against and killing of Nigerian nationals does not stop there will be consequences.

“Simply put our patience is wearing thin. 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,” he said.

He called on the South African government to do far more to protect Nigerian nationals and to bring those that have killed or are planning to kill them to justice, stressing that no-one deserves to be targeted and murdered simply because they are Nigerian.

He said further that the Nigerian community in South Africa is deeply disturbed by these developments and live in trepidation of what could happen next including the Nigerian Mission in South Africa.

“Equally disturbing is the fact that yet another deadline has been issued to African nationals, including Nigerians, to leave South Africa by September 30th.

“This deadline, like the last one, was issued by a number of brazenly racist, xenophobic and Afrophobic South African Non-Governmental organisations who have openly threatened to target and harm our nationals if their illegal deadline is not complied with.

“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 behavior,” he added.

Similarly, the chairman of the Northern Christian Association (NCA), Rev. John Joseph Hayab,  condemned the killings as a disturbing indication that the South African government has not done enough to protect Nigerians and other African nationals in the country.

Fakunle, 58, an indigene of Iye in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, was reportedly shot dead at his residence in Kensington, Johannesburg, on September 4, 2026.

The Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA) said two suspects gained access to his residence and opened fire, reportedly hitting him more than seven times. A murder case has been opened at Jeppe Police Station.

Reacting to the incident in an interview with LEADERSHIP, Hayab said it was unacceptable that Nigerians and other Africans could still be killed in another African country in an era when the continent was expected to uphold the spirit of Ubuntu.

He said the circumstances surrounding Fakunle’s death should be thoroughly investigated to establish whether it was a robbery, xenophobic attack or another form of criminality.

“I heard it and it was a sad story, a sad happening. We’ve been battling with this challenge in South Africa for some time, though there’s no clarity whether it was robbery or some kind of issues,” Hayab said.

He urged the South African authorities to fish out those who are responsible for this terrible act and ensure that they were brought to justice.

Hayab also criticised Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accusing it of failing to demonstrate sufficient commitment to protecting Nigerians, both at home and abroad.

“This is one of the challenges we have with our government, especially the Ministry of External Affairs,” he said.

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and the Women Inclusion, Empowerment and Leadership Development Initiative (WIELD-I) have also condemned the killings.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP Weekend in Abuja, CISLAC Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, described the incidents as worrisome.

Also, Speaking to LEADERSHIP weekend in Abuja, the convener of the Civil Society Alliance for Transparency and Development (CSATD), Basah Mohammed described the deaths as deeply disturbing, saying they had raised concerns about the safety and livelihoods of Nigerians living and working in the country.

He, however, cautioned against prejudging the circumstances surrounding the deaths until investigations establish the facts.

According to him, the incidents should not be treated as isolated cases given the history of attacks and tensions involving African migrants in South Africa.

Mohammed said Nigeria and South Africa are two important African countries whose relationship should be based on mutual respect and the protection of citizens’ rights and dignity.

He stressed that Nigerians living and conducting legitimate businesses in South Africa should be able to go about their activities without fear.

The CSATD convener called on the Nigerian Government to continue engaging the South African authorities and demand transparent investigations into the deaths.

He also urged the government to ensure that justice is served wherever Nigerians are found to have been victims of wrongdoing.