Three more Nigerians killed in South Africa in separate incidents, bringing the number of Nigerian deaths recorded in the country this year to 12, according to Nigeria’s ambassador designate to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode.
Fani-Kayode disclosed the latest deaths in a statement issued on Monday, September 28, saying the incidents occurred on September 18, 20 and 21. He said the information was brought to his attention by Nigeria’s Consul-General in Johannesburg and was contained in a formal statement from the Nigerian Consulate.
The ambassador said 112 Nigerians have now reportedly died in South Africa since 2022, including 32 whom Nigerian authorities allege were killed by members of the South African security forces. He further alleged that none of those responsible had been convicted.
Fani-Kayode condemned the latest deaths and called on South African authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding each case, prosecute anyone found responsible and take steps to improve the safety of Nigerians living in the country. He also expressed condolences to the families of the victims.
The Nigerian Consulate General in Johannesburg separately condemned the deaths, which it said occurred in different parts of South Africa between September 18 and 21.
In a statement signed by Consul-General Ambassador Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, the mission identified the victims as Kenechukwu Christopher Igwemmadu, Olaniyi Olaleye Olatunde and Christian Hillary Nnaemeka.
According to the Consulate, Igwemmadu died on September 18 after allegedly jumping from a building while trying to escape what the mission described as police harassment and brutality at Kenlin Court on Douglas Street in Bloemfontein’s central business district.
The second victim, Olatunde, was a security guard at Spanata Bar and Grills Night Club in Mamelodi East, Pretoria. The Consulate said he was shot on September 20 following an altercation with a South African customer.
The mission said Olatunde had attempted to prevent the customer from leaving the premises with a cup belonging to the establishment. During the confrontation, the customer allegedly produced a firearm and shot Olatunde in the lower part of his body.
He reportedly suffered severe injuries and heavy blood loss. The Consulate said the alleged shooter left the scene but later returned and threatened witnesses after learning that his identity was known.
Olatunde was taken to Mamelodi Hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Doctors confirmed his death on September 21, according to the Consulate.
The third case involved Nnaemeka, whose death the Consulate linked to an encounter with the Sizok’thola team led by South African politician and investigative content creator Xolani Khumalo in Primrose, Ekurhuleni, on September 21.
The Nigerian mission alleged that members of the team assaulted Nnaemeka during an operation and that he was beaten despite the team allegedly finding nothing incriminating on him.
The Consulate said Nnaemeka subsequently tried to escape by jumping over a fence but collapsed after suffering injuries and becoming exhausted. He was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival, according to the mission.
The Consulate also referred to the February 9 death of another Nigerian, Emeka Clement Uzor, whom it said was shot by the same Xolani Khumalo reality television crew in Windsor East, Randburg. It said no arrests had been made in connection with Uzor’s death and noted that Khumalo was running for mayor of Ekurhuleni.
The latest allegations have added to concerns raised by Nigerian officials about the safety of Nigerians and other foreign nationals in South Africa. The Consulate described the incidents as deeply troubling and called for full investigations into the deaths and prosecution of anyone found to have acted unlawfully.
At the same time, the mission stressed that allegations must be dealt with through established legal procedures and that anyone accused of wrongdoing should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The Consulate also urged Nigerians living in South Africa to remain calm, law-abiding and security-conscious amid what it described as ongoing xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks, threats, insecurity and mistreatment of vulnerable black African foreigners, particularly Nigerians.
The latest cases came less than three weeks after Fani-Kayode raised concerns about the deaths of two other Nigerians in South Africa.
On September 11, he condemned the killing of Bishop Michael Taiwo Fakunle, who was reportedly shot at his home in Johannesburg on September 4. He also referred to the death of James Uchechukwu Nwankwo, who reportedly died on September 5 following an encounter with South African police.
The Nigerian Consulate said it remained committed to protecting the welfare of Nigerian nationals in South Africa and ensuring that complaints involving their treatment are addressed through appropriate channels. It extended its condolences to the families and loved ones of the three Nigerians whose deaths were reported this month.
