The Federal Government has demanded a thorough, transparent and expeditious investigation into the killing of two Nigerians in South Africa to unravel the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
Condemning the incident, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, issued by its spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, at the weekend, identified the victims as Bishop Taiwo Fakunle and James Uchechukwu Nwankwo.
According to the statement, Fakunle was murdered at his residence in Kensington, Johannesburg, on Sept. 4, 2026, while Nwankwo was killed on Sept. 5 in Sommerset, Cape Town.
The ministry lamented that these killings were happening at a time when foreigners, particularly Africans, are grappling with the devastating impacts of widespread Xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa.
“This raise questions about the safety of foreigners in the country and the commitment of the South African authorities to curbing targeted attacks against foreigners.
“It is extremely worrisome that law enforcement agents, saddled with the responsibility of securing lives and property, are exacerbating an already fragile situation by resorting to unacceptable interrogation techniques that have frequently led to the deaths of foreigners.
“Nigeria views these incidents with grave concern and condemns the killings of Bishop Fakunle and Mr Nwankwo in the strongest terms possible,” the statement said.
The federal government, therefore called on the relevant South African authorities to immediately commence thorough and transparent investigations into the circumstances surrounding the two killings.
This, it said, should be done with a view to ensuring that those responsible for the murder are identified and brought to justice in accordance with the law.
Emphasising that “Nigeria expects that this matter would be accorded the attention and urgency required,” the statement posited that “Nigeria values constructive dialogue as a means of resolving differences and has consistently adopted this approach in our engagement with South Africa in an effort to address the irritants of Xenophobia and Afrophobia.”
The Nigerian government regretted that a proposed mechanism intended to help both countries respond to emerging threats had not yet been fully implemented by South African authorities.
The ministry said a Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of an Early Warning Mechanism, which emerged from Nigeria and South Africa’s dialogue, had already been signed by Nigeria.
“It is yet to be signed by South Africa,” the statement said.
The ministry recalled that Nigeria had formally placed the recurring waves of Xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa before the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS.
It added that Nigeria’s formal complaint on the development was also before the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
“As a follow-up to these diplomatic steps, the Government of Nigeria is actively considering other concrete measures to secure the cooperation of the South African authorities on this matter,” the ministry said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government of Nigeria has extended its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the peaceful repose of the souls of late Fakunle and Nwankwo.
The government also prays that their families, friends, and the wider Nigerian community in South Africa would find the strength and fortitude to bear their painful loss.
