Nigerian High Commissioner-designate to South Africa, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has demanded urgent action by the South African Government to protect Nigerians and bring perpetrators of killings involving Nigerian nationals to justice.
Fani-Kayode, reacting to the recent killings of Bishop Michael Taiwo Fakunle and James Uchechukwu Nwankwo in Johannesburg in a statement made available to Tribune, said he was “mortified and deeply shocked” by the developments, warning that Nigeria’s patience over the situation was wearing thin.
Fakunle was allegedly shot dead at his home in Johannesburg on September 4 after receiving a series of threats, while Nwankwo reportedly died on September 5 following what Fani-Kayode described as “gruesome interrogation techniques” by officers of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
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According to the High Commissioner-designate, the two deaths bring to eight the number of Nigerians allegedly murdered in South Africa this year, with four of the cases involving South African police officers.
“Bishop Fakunle and Mr. Nwankwo are the seventh and eighth Nigerians to have been murdered in South Africa this year alone. No less than four amongst the eight were murdered by South African police officers,” he said.
Fani-Kayode further claimed that more than 100 Nigerians had been killed in South Africa since 2022, including over 30 allegedly killed by personnel of the SAPS and the South African Defence Force.
He expressed concern that, despite repeated complaints by the Nigerian authorities, no person had been arrested, detained, prosecuted or brought to justice in connection with the alleged killings.
“What is most disturbing is the fact that in spite of 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,” he said.
“This is unacceptable.”
Fani-Kayode called on the South African Government to intensify efforts to protect Nigerian nationals and ensure that those responsible for their deaths were prosecuted.
“We call on the South African Government to do far more to protect our nationals and to bring those that have killed or are planning to kill them to justice,” he said.
“No-one deserves to be targeted and murdered simply because they are Nigerian.”
He said the Nigerian community in South Africa was “deeply disturbed” by the developments and living in fear over what could happen next, adding that the Nigerian Mission in the country was equally concerned.
The High Commissioner-designate also condemned what he described as a fresh deadline issued to African nationals, including Nigerians, to leave South Africa by September 30.
According to him, the deadline was issued by South African non-governmental organisations which he accused of being “brazenly racist, xenophobic and Afrophobic” and of threatening Nigerian and other African nationals who failed to comply.
“We call on the South African Government to protect our people from the excesses of these racist organisations and their misguided members and to apply the full weight of the law against them for their lawless behaviour,” he said.
He also urged the South African authorities to prosecute individuals responsible for allegedly “traumatising, terrorising, torturing and killing” Nigerians.
Fani-Kayode said Nigeria remained committed to strengthening relations with South Africa but warned that continued killings and discrimination against Nigerians could undermine bilateral ties.
“Whilst we seek to establish stronger and deeper ties with the South African Government, one thing remains clear. If this vicious cycle of discrimination against and killing of our nationals does not stop, there will be consequences,” he said.
“Simply put, our patience is wearing thin.”
He added: “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.”
Fani-Kayode condoled with the families and associates of the two deceased Nigerians, praying that the souls of Fakunle and Nwankwo would rest in peace.