Nigeria Says Three Nationals Killed in South Africa as Migrant Tensions Mount
Nigeria's envoy to South Africa says three Nigerians were killed in recent days, deepening tensions over anti-migrant violence.
Three Nigerian nationals were killed in South Africa between Sept. 18 and 21, Nigerian authorities said Tuesday, in a development likely to sharpen already strained relations between the two countries over violence targeting migrants.
Nigeria's ambassador-designate to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, identified the victims as Kenechukwu Christopher Igwemmadu, killed in Bloemfontein; Olaniyi Olaleye Olatunde, in Pretoria; and Christian Hillary Nnaemeka, in Primrose.
The killings raise the number of Nigerians killed in South Africa this year to 12, and to 112 since 2022, according to the Nigerian official.
"Nigeria will protect its nationals," Fani-Kayode said in a post on the social platform X.
The Nigerian consulate in South Africa said the deaths, "coming in quick succession, also raise questions about what seems to be a pattern of targeting Nigerians in South Africa."
Consul-General Ninikanwa Okey-Uche called on South African authorities to investigate thoroughly and bring those responsible to justice. "We continue to call on relevant South African authorities to investigate the deaths thoroughly and bring the perpetrators of the gruesome acts to justice," Okey-Uche said in a statement.
South African authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The deaths come amid a period of unrest in South Africa, where violent anti-migrant protests in recent months have driven thousands of foreign nationals to leave and have stirred diplomatic friction with other African states. Earlier this month, Nigeria's parliament indefinitely suspended official visits and engagements with South Africa in response to the violence.
South Africa has long drawn migrants from across the continent, including many Nigerians, in search of economic opportunity. Foreign nationals have also faced sporadic outbreaks of xenophobic violence, with protesters blaming them for high unemployment, crime and pressure on public services.
In June, two Nigerians were killed during anti-migrant violence, two days before an unofficial deadline set by protesters for foreigners to leave. Nigeria's foreign ministry said at the time that one of the two was allegedly killed by police officers and the other by unidentified attackers.