The Federal Government has strongly condemned the killing of two Nigerian nationals in South Africa and called on the South African authorities to conduct urgent investigations and bring the perpetrators to justice.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the government expressed deep concern over the growing pattern of attacks against Nigerians and other foreigners in South Africa, warning that such violence could strain bilateral relations.
The victims were identified as Emeka Charles Iroegbu and Musa Yunana Joe (popularly known as Big Joe).
According to the ministry, Iroegbu was allegedly killed by officers of the Tshwane Metro Police on June 28, 2026, in Sunnyside, Pretoria, during a “gruesome interrogation.”
The same officers were also allegedly responsible for the extra-judicial killing of another Nigerian, Nnaemeka Mathew Andrew Ekpenyong, on April 20, 2026, with no arrests made despite the identities of the officers being known.
Musa Yunana Joe was killed in front of his shop on June 28, 2026, in Witbank, Mpumalanga, by yet-to-be-identified criminals.
The ministry noted that these incidents occurred amid ongoing xenophobic attacks against foreigners in South Africa, raising serious concerns about the safety of Nigerians in the country.
“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 extra-judicial killings of Nigerian nationals in South Africa, and ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crimes are brought to justice without further delay,” the statement read.
The Federal Government stressed that no one should be subjected to unlawful treatment, emphasizing the need for due process, presumption of innocence, and fair hearing in accordance with the law.
It also condemned a recent televised statement by a South African government spokesperson that allegedly asked Nigerians leaving the country to disclose where they hid illegal drugs, describing such remarks as unacceptable hate speech that incites violence.
The government appealed to Nigerians in South Africa to remain calm, law-abiding, and security-conscious while diplomatic efforts continue.
It urged Nigerians at home to refrain from retaliatory actions and called on South Africa to uphold its international obligations to protect foreigners.
The statement warned that “all options remain on the table” if the attacks and provocative trend of intolerance against Nigerians persist. Evacuation of registered Nigerians from South Africa is reportedly ongoing.
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