Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has demanded urgent action from Pretoria following the deaths of two Nigerian nationals in separate incidents, warning that continued attacks against Nigerians could further strain relations between the two countries.
The victims, identified as Bishop Michael Taiwo Fakunle and James Uchechukwu Nwankwo, died in separate incidents in South Africa in early September.
Fakunle was reportedly shot at his residence in the Kensington area of Johannesburg on September 4 after allegedly receiving threats. Nwankwo died the following day in an incident involving officers of the South African Police Service (SAPS), according to Nigerian officials and Fani-Kayode’s account.
The two deaths have renewed concerns about the safety of Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa, particularly amid heightened tensions over undocumented migration and a fresh September 30 deadline announced by an anti-immigration movement.
Two deaths within 24 hours raise fresh concerns
Fakunle’s death came first.
According to the account cited by Fani-Kayode and reports from the Nigerian community in South Africa, the bishop had allegedly received threats before unidentified attackers went to his home and shot him.
The motive for the killing has not been publicly established, and no suspect has been identified in the reports reviewed.
A day later, Nwankwo died in an incident involving SAPS officers. Fani-Kayode alleged that he died following what he described as “gruesome interrogation techniques” by the police.
The Nigerian government has separately expressed concern over Nwankwo’s death and called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding both cases. The Foreign Ministry said the incidents raise serious questions about the safety of foreigners and the conduct of law-enforcement personnel in South Africa.
The allegations against the police remain allegations pending the outcome of any official investigation or judicial proceedings.
Fani-Kayode says eight Nigerians have been killed in 2026
Reacting to the latest incidents, Fani-Kayode said the deaths of Fakunle and Nwankwo brought the number of Nigerians allegedly killed in South Africa this year to eight.
He further claimed that more than 100 Nigerian nationals had been killed in South Africa since 2022, with more than 30 allegedly killed by members of the South African Police Service and South African Defence Force.
Those figures were presented by Fani-Kayode and have not been independently verified in the available public reporting. They should therefore be understood as figures cited by the ambassador-designate rather than an independently established national death toll.
Fani-Kayode also criticised what he described as the lack of accountability for previous killings, arguing that repeated complaints from Nigerian authorities had not produced sufficient prosecutions or convictions.
He called on Pretoria to take stronger steps to protect Nigerians and investigate cases in which Nigerian nationals have died as a result of alleged criminal or security-force actions.
September 30 deadline adds another layer of tension
The latest killings come against an already tense backdrop.
An anti-immigration movement known as March and March announced September 30 as a deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave South Africa. The group made the announcement during a protest in Durban in August and has continued to campaign against undocumented migration.
The campaign has caused concern among Nigerian officials and members of the Nigerian community.
Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, said in September that the Nigerian mission was working on further evacuation efforts amid the renewed pressure on foreigners. He disclosed that 1,699 Nigerians had already been assisted in returning from South Africa this year, including people supported through government and private initiatives.
That evacuation activity demonstrates that the concerns extend beyond individual criminal incidents to a wider question of whether some Nigerians feel sufficiently secure to remain in the country.
Nigeria-South Africa relations face another test
The latest developments could add pressure to an already sensitive relationship between Abuja and Pretoria.
Nigeria and South Africa maintain significant political, economic and diplomatic ties, but relations have periodically been affected by disputes over the treatment of Nigerian nationals, xenophobic violence and immigration.
For Fani-Kayode, the latest incidents represent a direct test of South Africa’s willingness to protect foreign nationals while enforcing its immigration laws.
He urged Pretoria to distinguish between legitimate immigration enforcement and attacks or threats against people because of their nationality.
Fani-Kayode also warned that continued killings and discrimination could have consequences for bilateral relations, although he maintained that Nigeria still wants stronger ties with South Africa.
What happens next?
The immediate focus is likely to be on the investigations into the deaths of Fakunle and Nwankwo.
For Fakunle’s case, questions remain over who carried out the shooting, whether the reported threats were connected to the killing and what motive investigators may establish.
For Nwankwo’s case, scrutiny is likely to centre on the circumstances surrounding his interaction with SAPS officers, the cause of death and whether an independent investigation will determine whether any officers should face disciplinary or criminal proceedings.
The September 30 deadline announced by March and March is another issue to watch. While the group does not have the authority of the South African government to legally deport foreign nationals, its threats and mobilisation have heightened fears of possible confrontations involving migrants.
The Nigerian government has therefore been placed under pressure to balance diplomatic engagement with stronger protection for its citizens.
For Nigerians living in South Africa, the key issue is no longer simply immigration policy. It is whether the authorities can guarantee their safety, investigate deaths transparently and prevent nationality-based violence.
As investigations into the two latest deaths continue, the response from South African authorities could determine whether the latest dispute remains a diplomatic complaint or develops into another major strain in Nigeria-South Africa relations.
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