There is indignation in Nigeria over the murders of two Nigerian nationals, Bishop Michael Fakunle and James Nwankwo, in separate instances in South Africa. Geographic Coverage
Fakunle, who hails from Iye in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, was said to have been shot dead in his apartment in Johannesburg on September 4 by unknown persons after a series of threats.
The PUNCH, however, says that Nwankwo allegedly died on September 5 following what officials of the South African Police Service described as “gruesome interrogation techniques.”
The killings have raised fears of the safety of Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa which has been grappling with periodic xenophobic attacks and claims of police brutality.
The two men are the seventh and eighth Nigerians reportedly killed in South Africa this year, Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, said.
Four of the eight Nigerians were allegedly slain by South African police officers, said Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation.
‘Bishop Fakunle and Mr. Nwankwo are the 7th and 8th Nigerians slain in South Africa this year alone, he claimed.
Besides that, more than 100 Nigerian nationals have been killed in South Africa between 2022 and today and more than 30 of them were killed by officials of the South African Police Service and South African Defence Force.
The Ambassador-designate added, “What is most disturbing is that not one person has been arrested, detained, prosecuted or brought to justice for any of these heinous crimes, despite our constant expressions of concern about this disturbing state of affairs.
He branded the organisations issuing the ultimatum as “racist, xenophobic and Afrophobic” and called on the South African government to safeguard Nigerians from their activities.
“Simply put, our patience is wearing thin,” he commented.
The incident led the National Assembly on Friday to stop all official travels to South Africa and instruct its members and officials to boycott legislative events hosted or organised by South African authorities until further notice.
But South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola claimed the government had not received any formal information on the decision.
The event did not, at that point, impact on the bilateral relations between Nigeria and South Africa, Lamola told SABC News in an interview.
“We have not received any official communication in that regard but our understanding is that it is the National Assembly of Nigeria and it does not at this stage affect the bilateral relations between the two countries.
‘It would be really bad if it will be because these are the two huge powers of the African continent that have to work together.
Lamola said South Africa continued to be open to engage with Nigeria on matters that impact the two countries.
He said Nigeria had provided South Africa with a list of approximately 100 Nigerians who had been reported slain in the country, adding that the South African authorities had authenticated the instances and were willing to discuss with the Nigerian government how the killings happened and the reasons behind them. Geographic Reference
But the South African minister had responded to the legislative boycott. The South African Consul-General in Lagos, Prof Bobby Moroe, when reached by our correspondent, refused to comment directly on the fresh fatalities.
Moroe said the answers will come from the South African government’s headquarters in Pretoria and he would pass them on to our correspondent.
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There had been no answer last nite.
The development has also elicited reactions from Nigerians on social media.
“Fakunle’s killing is heartbreaking and deeply disturbing. I call for a thorough investigation and justice for his family,” Chibuzor Anucha, posting as @royalchi on X, said.
“Some Nigerians still refused to leave with all the senseless killings in that useless country,” James Agberebi (@jaymeshelsing) posted. GeographicalReference
Another user, Musan Zariya (@Musa95Aliu) asked for stricter actions like recall of Nigeria’s ambassador, nationalisation of South African assets and banning cash inflows into the country.
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Nigeria can no longer afford to respond to the alleged mistreatment of its citizens with “diplomatic niceties,” Ibrahim James (@dazzlag_) stated, pushing for harsher actions and reciprocity.
However, Olatunji Azeez (@tj_attires) warned against making valid worries about attacks on Nigerians a hatred for South Africans as a people.
He said: “Behind every statistic is a Nigerian that left home in search for opportunities. Nigeria must defend its citizens everywhere. But we also have to be careful that justifiable concerns about assaults should not become hatred of an entire country or its people.” GeographicReference
The President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, South Africa, Dr ABC Okokoh, said in an interview with our correspondent that the deaths of Nigerians had been a longstanding worry.
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The problem was not just Nigeria, Okokoh said, adding that the violence in South Africa involved many different groups and was at a high level.
He said that Nigerian nationals are particularly exposed to high-handed treatment by the authorities.
“The issue that our new ambassador has identified has been the major issue,” he remarked. Killings have been continuing.
“This is not simply about killing Nigerians. This is a country that has a high level of violence, particularly between different groups of people. GeographicReference
“The police here are very high handed especially on the Nigerians. It’s nothing new.
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There are a lot of cases which are still in the courts. In the end, it doesn’t go as far as it could because the cases are also being prosecuted by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, which means it is the state prosecuting the state.”
Okokoh said certain cases involving alleged death of Nigerians by security forces have been blocked, leaving relatives of victims without justice.
He said the families affected needed more legal and media support and that more public attention may help put pressure on the government to ensure accountability.
In a similar vein, the President of the Association of Yorubas in Diaspora, South Africa, Dr Olusola Agbeniyi, raised concern over what he regarded as poor coverage of violence against Nigerians by South African media. Geographic Reference
More to explore Air Travel State & Local Government Executive Branch Agbeniyi said Nigerians were regularly in the South African media when they were accused of illegal acts but reports on Nigerians who were victims of violence were not given the same prominence.
“My concern is that we don’t really hear news about the killings of Nigerians in South Africa on the local media,” he remarked.
All we hear is Nigerians selling narcotics, Nigerians being jailed for being members of Black Axe and so on. When something unpleasant happens to Nigerians in South Africa, the story is not out or not published by South African media. This also needs greater investigation and intervention.”
On the alleged September 30 ultimatum to African nationals, Agbeniyi called on the South African Government to decisively deal with parties advocating xenophobia.
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He stated the government is charged with immigration issues and no private entity has the power to enforce immigration rules.
“Only the government is constitutionally mandated to deal with immigration matters. The South African government should have the guts to clamp down on any person that is participating in xenophobic activities against immigrants.
“People like that should be arrested and put on trial. No citizen is entitled to do the work of law enforcement officers. It’s illegal. “If the government is watching them doing this then they encourage it,” he stated.
The President-General of the Nigerian Union South Africa, Dr. Smart Nwobi, also called on South African authorities to take quick action. Geographic Reference
“All allegations made in relation to the deaths must be thoroughly and transparently investigated and anyone found guilty, be they civilian, police officer or other security official, must face the law,” Nwobi added.
“Make no mistake, NUSA will not be silent while Nigerian lives are lost, while justice is delayed or denied.”
“We respect the sovereignty of South Africa and are dedicated to positive relations between our two countries. But friendship and diplomatic connections cannot be an alibi for inaction in the face of injustice.
“This is a strong warning to the South African authorities that the continued killing, intimidation, harassment and alleged abuse of Nigerians will not be without consequences.
“The South African government has a constitutional and moral obligation to protect all persons on its territory, including Nigerians.
“So we expect concrete action, not just expressions of sympathy. “We expect accountability, investigations and justice.”
Meanwhile, the federal government has expressed sorrow at the deaths and called for justice for Fakunle and Nwankwo.
“The relevant South African authorities should immediately launch thorough and transparent investigations into the circumstances surrounding the two deaths,” said Oluwafemi Adeniyi, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria urges the relevant authorities of the Republic of South Africa to, without delay, carry out a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the two killings with a view to ensuring that those culpable of the murder are identified and brought to justice in accordance with the law.
The statement said: “Nigeria expects that this issue will be given the necessary attention and urgency.”\
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