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The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the recent deaths of two of its nationals in South Africa and called for thorough and transparent investigations into the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
The murdered Nigerians were identified as Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle and James Uchechukwu Nwankwo, who died on September 4 and 5, 2026, respectively.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, in a statement issued on Friday, said Fakunle was murdered at his residence in Kensington, Johannesburg, on September 4, 2026.
He also said Nwankwo died on September 5 in Cape Town, following what the Nigerian Government described as “gruesome interrogation techniques” by officers of the South African Police Service.
The Nigerian Government said the deaths were particularly concerning following recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against foreigners, particularly Africans, in South Africa.
It questioned the safety of foreigners in the country and the commitment of South African authorities to preventing attacks against them.
It called on the relevant South African authorities to immediately investigate the circumstances surrounding the two deaths and ensure that anyone found responsible is brought to justice.
“Nigeria expects that this matter would be accorded the attention and urgency required,” the statement said.
The ministry also expressed concern that South African law enforcement officers, whose responsibility is to protect lives and property, could be contributing to the insecurity faced by foreigners through unacceptable interrogation methods.
Nigeria said it had consistently pursued dialogue with South Africa to address xenophobia and Afrophobia and pointed to a Memorandum of Understanding on an Early Warning Mechanism as part of those efforts.
However, the government said the agreement, which Nigeria has signed, is yet to be signed by South Africa.
The ministry recalled that Nigeria had previously raised recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa before the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS and the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
It said the government was now considering “other concrete measures” to secure South African cooperation on the issue.
The Nigerian Government extended condolences to the families of Fakunle and Nwankwo, as well as their friends and the wider Nigerian community in South Africa.
Nigeria Condemns Fresh Killings of Nationals in South Africa, Calls for thorough, Transparent and Expeditious Investigations. pic.twitter.com/3jBXkcSehK
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria 🇳🇬 (@NigeriaMFA) September 11, 2026
