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Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, has demanded a probe into the extra-judicial killings of Nigerians in South Africa.
Two Nigerians, identified as Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew, were killed following rising xenophobic tensions in South Africa in April 2026.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu, in a discussion with her South African counterpart, Ronald Lamola, urged the South African Government to investigate the extrajudicial killings of Nigerian nationals in the country.
The minister revealed the details of her discussion with Lamola in a post shared on Facebook.
“I maintained that the government cannot stand by and watch the systematic harassment and humiliation of our nationals resident in South Africa,” she said.
More so, the extra-judicial killings of our people and the evacuation of our citizens who want to return home remain our government’s priority at this time.
“I also highlighted the need for their police and justice systems to take the cases on ground of extra-judicial killings of Nigerians in South Africa more seriously and there should be clear and immediate consequences for such acts.”
Violent attacks against Black migrants in South Africa are recurring. In April 2026, anti-foreigner movements ordered Black migrants out of South Africa and hounded them down.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also revealed that children born to Nigerian and South African parents are also bullied in schools.
“Nigerian children and children born of both Nigerian and South African parents referred to as ‘Sougerians’ are being wrongfully bullied in schools, and taunted to return to their country,” she added.
“This is reprehensible and capable of causing trauma to young minds, for whom such incidents may remain etched in memory.”
Anti-foreigner movements also staged protests in Durban on Wednesday. Odumegwu, however, noted that Wednesday’s protests in Durban did not record acts of violence, as there was a heavy security presence.
She said it was worrisome that the anti-foreigner movement was ordering only Black migrants to leave South Africa.
“It appears to be targeted only toward black Africans, which makes one wonder whether what is happening should not be more accurately defined as ‘Afriphobia’ rather than Xenophobia,” she added.
“President Bola Tinubu has directed the Nigerian Missions in South Africa to set up, with immediate effect, a crisis notifications unit for imperiled citizens, who have been advised to contact South Africa security authorities, whenever dangerous situations arise.”
