Nigeria condemns killing of two nationals amid South Africa's anti-migrant unrest

Nigeria's government has denounced the killing of two of its nationals in South Africa, warning that foreigners are being "unduly targeted" amid a wave of anti-migrant protests sweeping South African cities and towns. 

Nigeria's Foreign Ministry said the two men were killed on 28 June. One of them, Emeka Charles Iroegbu, was allegedly killed by Tshwane Metro Police officers in Sunnyside, Pretoria. The ministry blamed the alleged use of "gruesome interrogation techniques" for his death but offered no evidence to support the claim.

The ministry said the same officers had earlier been allegedly responsible for the extra-judicial killing of another Nigerian, Nnaemeka Mathew Andrew Ekpenyong, on 20 April 2026. According to the ministry, that case remains pending and no arrests have been made, even though the four officers involved are known to the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The second victim, Musa Yunana Joe, known as "Big Joe," was killed in front of his shop in Witbank, Mpumalanga province, by unidentified attackers. The Nigerian ministry described the perpetrators as yet-to-be-identified criminals.

A ministry statement said the deaths occurred two days before a deadline set by protesters for foreign workers to leave South Africa.

Nigeria warns of "unduly targeted" foreigners

Nigerian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa said: "These two killings come at a time when foreigners are being unduly targeted in South Africa."

He added: "This raises questions about [the] deliberate attempt by some elements to wrongfully generalise and tag well-meaning, hard-working and respectable Nigerians as criminals."

The ministry said the pattern of such incidents pointed to complicity on the part of security operatives, particularly officers of the Tshwane Metro Police, raising questions of state responsibility under international law. It said data collated by Nigerian missions in South Africa laid the grounds for criminal liability.

The statement noted that South Africa has one of the highest crime rates in the world, including looting and mob action, and said it was unfair to make foreigners scapegoats for socio-economic conditions that needed to be addressed by the authorities.

Concern over official remarks and hate speech

Nigeria said it was concerned about a televised public statement by a spokesperson for the South African government, who asked Nigerians leaving the country amid the xenophobic protests to show where they hide illegal drugs. The Nigerian ministry called the remarks "unacceptable," describing them as derogatory, unprofessional and amounting to hate speech that incites negative and criminal actions against the Nigerian community.

The ministry also said leaders of groups such as "March on March" and "Operation Dudula," which it accused of inciting violence and hatred against fellow Africans, would be held accountable as a matter of regional and international criminal liability.

The ministry said it was separately concerned that politicians were further inflaming tensions through xenophobic remarks in local media. South African authorities have yet to comment on the ministry's statements.

Calls for investigation and justice

Nigeria's government called for urgent investigations into the two killings, as well as several other pending cases of extra-judicial killings of Nigerian nationals in South Africa, and demanded that those responsible be brought to justice without delay. It said its position remained that, regardless of allegations or suspicions, lawful processes must be followed and all individuals presumed innocent and granted a fair hearing.

The government said it sympathised with the families and associates of the deceased and would continue to engage with senior South African authorities until justice was served.

Guidance for Nigerian nationals

Citing the volatile security situation, the Nigerian government appealed to its nationals in South Africa to remain calm, law-abiding and security-conscious, advising them to move to safer neighbourhoods and avoid areas prone to violence. It said it would continue to explore diplomatic solutions to address what it termed the growing problem of Afrophobia in South Africa.

The ministry noted that numerous South African nationals and businesses operate in Nigeria without harassment, and said it was the responsibility of the South African government to protect the lives and property of all foreigners, including Nigerians, living in the country. It said the systematic targeting of Nigerian nationals legally residing in South Africa was unacceptable and that their safety should be guaranteed.

The government said it was putting the South African government "on notice" that all options remained on the table if the situation continued, referring to what it described as an "uncultured and provocative trend of intolerance and apartheid-style behaviour" towards foreigners.

At the same time, Nigeria's government called on its own citizens to remain calm and not to take the law into their own hands through retaliatory action, saying it would continue to pursue dialogue in the spirit of African unity, brotherhood and solidarity. The evacuation process for registered Nigerians was continuing, the ministry said.