Nigeria Demands Action from South Africa Over Killings

Nigeria has formally protested to South Africa regarding the killings of at least 98 Nigerian citizens since 2022, attributed to mob violence, hate crimes, and extra-judicial killings. This protest was articulated during a high-level meeting in Abuja between Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Special Envoy, Minister Ronald Lamola.

The meeting, directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, aimed to address the escalating violence against Nigerians in South Africa and to prevent further deterioration of bilateral relations. Ambassador Enikanolaiye expressed Nigeria's deep concern over the targeting of its citizens and urged South Africa to take decisive action to protect foreign nationals and prosecute those responsible for the violence.

Lamola reaffirmed South Africa's commitment to combating xenophobia but emphasized the country's right to enforce its immigration laws, mentioning ongoing prosecutions of suspects linked to attacks on Nigerians. The meeting concluded with a call for enhanced collaboration to tackle transnational organized crime while ensuring the safety of law-abiding citizens.