Monday, June 6, 2026 -The Federal Government has warned that Nigeria may consider additional measures if attacks on its citizens in South Africa persist.
This is as the country condemned the killing of two Nigerian
nationals in South Africa and demanded immediate investigations, warning that
the continued targeting of foreigners, particularly Nigerians, raises serious
concerns about their safety and the resurgence of xenophobic violence in the
country.
The victims, Emeka Charles Iroegbu and Musa Yunana Joe,
popularly known as Big Joe, were both killed on June 28, 2026.
While Iroegbu was allegedly tortured to death by officers of
the Tshwane Metro Police in Sunnyside, Pretoria, Joe was reportedly shot dead
by unidentified criminals outside his shop in Witbank, Mpumalanga.
In separate statements issued on Sunday by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian Consulate General in Johannesburg and the
Nigerian Union South Africa, authorities called for prompt, transparent and
exhaustive investigations to ensure that those responsible were apprehended and
prosecuted without delay.
“We wish to place the Government of South Africa on notice
that if the situation continues to persist, all options remain on the table,
some of which will be activated if the uncultured and provocative trend of
intolerance and apartheid-style behaviour of South Africa against foreigners is
not addressed,” the statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated.
The government described the incidents as part of a
disturbing pattern of violence against Nigerians in South Africa, noting that
the same Tshwane Metro Police officers allegedly implicated in the killing of
another Nigerian, Nnaemeka Mathew Andrew Ekpenyong, on April 20, have yet to be
arrested despite being known to the South African Police Service.
In the statement issued on Sunday by the spokesperson of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the government expressed outrage
over the deaths.
The statement said, “One victim, Emeka Charles Iroegbu, was
reportedly killed by Tshwane Metro Police officers on 28th June 2026, in
Sunnyside, Pretoria, using gruesome interrogation techniques.”
The government further recalled that the same officers were
allegedly involved in the extrajudicial killing of another Nigerian, Nnaemeka
Mathew Andrew Ekpenyong, on April 20, 2026.
“His case is still pending; no arrests have been made, even
though the four officers involved are known to the South African Police
Service,” the statement added.
The ministry noted that the killings occurred amid rising
xenophobic tensions and increasing attacks on foreigners in South Africa,
warning against attempts to stereotype Nigerians as criminals.
“These two killings come at a time when foreigners are being
unduly targeted in South Africa. This raises questions about a deliberate
attempt by some elements to wrongfully generalise and tag well-meaning,
hard-working, and respectable Nigerians as criminals,” it stated.
The Federal Government also accused some South African
security operatives, particularly officers of the Tshwane Metro Police, of
complicity in the attacks.
Nigeria further expressed concern over remarks reportedly
made by a spokesperson of the South African government, who allegedly
challenged Nigerians leaving the country because of xenophobic protests to
reveal where illegal drugs were hidden.
The government described the comments as inflammatory and
unacceptable.
“The unguarded public statements are unacceptable and are
strongly condemned. Such derogatory, unprofessional and uncensored generalised
public statements by highly placed government officials constitute hate speech
that influences and incites negative and criminal actions against members of
the Nigerian community,” the statement said.
The Federal Government called on South African authorities
to launch immediate investigations into the killings and other unresolved cases
involving Nigerian nationals.
“The Government of Nigeria, therefore, calls on the South
African authorities to conduct urgent investigations into the two killings and
several other pending cases of extrajudicial killings of Nigerian nationals in
South Africa, and ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crimes are
brought to justice without further delay,” the ministry stated.
While sympathising with the families of the deceased, the
government said it would continue engaging South African authorities at the
highest levels until justice is achieved.
The ministry also advised Nigerians residing in South Africa
to remain calm, law-abiding and vigilant, urging them to relocate to safer
areas and avoid locations prone to violence amid ongoing xenophobic and
Afrophobic demonstrations.
The ministry, however, appealed to Nigerians not to engage
in retaliatory actions, stressing that the government would continue to pursue
dialogue and negotiations in the spirit of African unity, brotherhood and
solidarity.
It added that the evacuation process for registered
Nigerians willing to leave South Africa remained ongoing.
Another statement signed by the Nigerian Consul General in
Johannesburg, Amb Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, revealed that the officers of the
Tshwane Metro Police killed Iroegbu, while Joe was murdered by some criminals.
“We continue to call on the South African authorities to
investigate the cases and bring the perpetrators of the gruesome acts to
justice without further delay,” the statement affirmed.
Also, the Nigerian Union South Africa “demands prompt,
transparent and exhaustive investigation to ensure that the perpetrators are
apprehended and face the full wrath of the law.”
The statement by the union’s spokesperson, Akindele
Olunloyo, said the community was working with the Nigerian High Commission in
Pretoria and the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in
Johannesburg to monitor the situation.
“In light of these tragic killings, we urge all Nigerians in
South Africa to remain calm, law-abiding and vigilant. Please exercise extreme
caution in your daily activities, know your surroundings, and report any
suspicious activities to the local police,” it added.
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