Femi Fani-Kayode Reports Rising Xenophobic Violence in South Africa

The article addresses the xenophobic violence faced by Nigerians in South Africa, reporting eight verified deaths of Africans linked to such attacks since June 2026. Femi Fani-Kayode, Nigeria’s High Commissioner, confirmed that Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle and James Uchechukwu Nwankwo were the seventh and eighth Nigerians murdered in South Africa in 2026.

Fakunle was shot at his home in Kensington, Johannesburg, on 4 September, while Nwankwo died the following day, with conflicting reports regarding the circumstances of his death, attributed to police interrogation techniques. Fani-Kayode stated that over 100 Nigerians have been killed in South Africa since 2022, with more than 30 deaths allegedly caused by police or soldiers.

The article emphasizes the need for a different approach to address these issues, as appealing to a state that is implicated in the violence requires distinct remedies.