The Federal Government has confirmed the deaths of two Nigerian nationals in separate incidents in South Africa, renewing concerns over the safety of Nigerians amid growing hostility towards foreign nationals.
The victims, Emeka Charles Iroegbu and Musa Yunana Joe, were reportedly killed on June 28 in different parts of the country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, disclosed in a statement on Sunday that Iroegbu allegedly died after an encounter with officers of the Tshwane Metro Police in Sunnyside, Pretoria.
According to the ministry, the officers reportedly subjected the deceased to severe interrogation, resulting in his death.
Ebienfa further alleged that the same security operatives had previously been linked to the extra-judicial killing of another Nigerian, Nnaemeka Mathew Andrew Ekpenyong, whose case has yet to be concluded.
He expressed concern that no officer had been arrested despite claims that those allegedly involved were known to the South African Police Service.
The second victim, Joe, widely known as “Big Joe”, was reportedly shot dead outside his business premises in Witbank, Mpumalanga. Authorities have yet to identify or apprehend those responsible for the attack.
The latest fatalities come against the backdrop of increasing anti-migrant sentiment in South Africa. Earlier this year, the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg confirmed the deaths of two Nigerians during a wave of xenophobic attacks, although some returnees insisted the actual number of victims was higher.
Reacting to the latest incidents, the Nigerian government said the recurring attacks had become a source of serious concern, alleging that some security personnel had either failed to stop the violence or were directly implicated in it.
Ebienfa said the repeated killings of Nigerians, particularly cases allegedly involving members of the Tshwane Metro Police, raised issues of accountability and possible state responsibility under international law.
He added that information gathered by Nigerian diplomatic missions pointed to possible criminal liability, stressing that it was unjust to single out Nigerians for the country’s deep-rooted social and economic problems.
The spokesperson maintained that Nigerians generally respect the laws of their host countries and should not be unfairly branded as criminals because of the actions of a few individuals.
He urged South African authorities to launch comprehensive investigations into the latest killings and other unresolved cases involving Nigerian citizens, while ensuring that all those found culpable face prosecution.
Ebienfa warned that Nigeria would not rule out further diplomatic steps if the persistent attacks and alleged acts of intolerance against its citizens continued.
He also conveyed the Federal Government’s condolences to the families of the deceased, assuring them that efforts would continue to ensure justice is achieved.
