Nigeria's Fani-Kayode Condemns Killings of Nationals in SA

Femi Fani-Kayode, the High Commissioner designate to the Republic of South Africa, stated that Nigeria's patience is wearing thin regarding the alleged killings of its nationals in South Africa. He condemned the murders of Bishop Michael Taiwo Fakunle and James Uchechukwu Nwankwo, who were killed in Johannesburg on September 4 and 5, respectively.

Fakunle was reportedly killed at home after receiving threats, while Nwankwo died following alleged brutal interrogation by the South African Police Service. Fani-Kayode noted that these two deaths marked the seventh and eighth murders of Nigerians in South Africa this year, with claims that over 100 Nigerians have been killed since 2022, including more than 30 by South African police and military personnel.

He criticized the South African government for failing to prosecute any perpetrators and urged them to protect Nigerian citizens. Additionally, he condemned threats from South African NGOs demanding that African nationals leave the country by September 30, labeling these actions as illegal and xenophobic.