The President Bola -Ahmed Tinubu -led administration has condemned outright the recent killings of two Nigerian nationals in South Africa, demanding thorough, transparent and expeditious investigations into the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, on Friday, identified the victims as Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle and James Uchechukwu Nwankwo.
According to the ministry, Fakunle was murdered at his residence in Kensington, Johannesburg, on September 4, 2026, while Nwankwo was said to have died in Somerset, Cape Town, on September 5 following what it described as “gruesome interrogation techniques” allegedly used by officers of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
According to the Foreign Affairs minister, both Fakunle and Uchechukwu’s deaths occurred amid widespread xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks targeting foreigners, particularly Africans, in South Africa.
The federal government also expressed concern over the incidents, raising questions about the safety of foreigners in the country and the commitment of South African authorities to curbing targeted attacks against them.
Nigeria also criticised the alleged conduct of law enforcement officers, saying authorities responsible for protecting lives and property should not worsen an already fragile situation by resorting to unacceptable interrogation techniques.
“Nigeria views these incidents with grave concern and condemns the killings of Bishop Fakunle and Mr Nwankwo in the strongest terms possible,” the ministry said.
The Federal Government urged the appropriate South African authorities to start a full and open investigation into the circumstances of the two deaths right away.
It stated that those responsible must be found and held accountable under the law. The government also expects these cases to receive the attention and urgency they deserve.
The government also expressed concern about how a proposed joint plan to address xenophobia and Afrophobia is being put into action.
The ministry said Nigeria has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding to set up an Early Warning Mechanism, following talks with South Africa. However, South Africa has not yet signed the agreement.
Nigeria explained that it had already brought up repeated xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa to both the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
The Federal Government added that it was “actively considering other concrete measures” to secure South African authorities’ cooperation on the issue.
It also extended condolences to the families of Fakunle and Nwankwo, as well as their friends and the wider Nigerian community in South Africa.
The ministry said it prayed for the peaceful repose of the deceased and for strength for their families to bear the loss.