Over 30 Nigerians have been killed by the South African police in the last four years, the Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, says.
In a Facebook post on Friday night, Mr Fani-Kayode said there was a growing pattern of the South African Police Service and the South African Defence Force officials subjecting Nigerians residing in the country to abuse that sometimes results in deaths.
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He also estimated that over 100 Nigerian nationals have been killed within the same timeframe, including eight in 2026.
“No less than 4 amongst the 8 were murdered by South African police officers.
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“Outside of that over 100 Nigerian nationals have been murdered in South Africa between 2022 and today and over 30 of them were killed by officers of the South African Police Service and South African Defence Force.
“Nigeria’s patience is running thin,” he declared.
The post followed the announcement of the death of two more Nigerians, which Mr Fani-Kayode said raised the number of Nigerians killed in 2026 alone to eight.
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PREMIUM TIMES reported that the latest victims, identified as James Nwankwo and Taiwo Fakunle, were murdered last weekend.
The Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg provided an account of their murder earlier on Friday. Mr Nwankwo was reportedly killed by officials of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Somerset West, Cape Town, on the 5th of September.
He is the latest Nigerian to be killed allegedly by the South African Police Service since April, when the latest wave of xenophobic violence began.
Mr Fani-Kayode said Mr James “died as a consequence of what has been described as gruesome interrogation techniques by the South African police.”
The other Nigerian, identified as Taiwo Fakunle, was shot on 4 September at his residence in Johannesburg.
“After issuing a series of threats, his killers went to his home and shot him dead,” Mr Fani-Koyode said, describing the victim as a bishop.
His killers are yet to be identified.
“What is most disturbing is the fact that despite our constant expressions of concern about this disturbing state of affairs, not one person has been arrested, detained, prosecuted or brought to justice for ANY of these heinous crimes. This is unacceptable,” the ambassador noted.
New deadline for foreigners
Mr Fani-Kayode also disclosed that a new deadline has been set for black foreigners in South Africa to leave the country.
An arbitrary deadline of 30 June was issued earlier. This paper reported that the deadline had intensified tension as South Africans marched in droves across cities to protest the presence of African migrants in the country.
The new deadline, like the last one, was issued by “brazenly racist, xenophobic and Afrophobic” groups, according to Mr Fani-Kayode.
He also stated that these groups have openly threatened to target and harm Nigerians and other African foreigners if their “illegal deadline is not complied with.”
“The Nigerian community in South Africa is deeply disturbed by these developments and lives in trepidation of what could happen next. So is the Nigerian Mission in South Africa,” he said further.
Mr Fani-Kayode demanded that the South African government step up to protect African foreigners from the excesses of the xenophobic groups and their misguided members.
He asked the government to “apply the full weight of the law against them for their lawless behaviour.”
He warned of potential consequences if the “vicious cycle of discrimination against and killing” is allowed to continue.
“South Africans are not targeted and killed in Nigeria by our people or our security forces.
“The least the South African Government can do is to reciprocate this gesture, protect our nationals and address our legitimate concerns,” he said.
The xenophobic attacks in South Africa have led to the exodus of thousands of Africans from the country. Countries that have repatriated many of their citizens include Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Malawi.
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