Nigeria's Fani-Kayode Warns Over Killings in South Africa

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 reportedly killed in Johannesburg on September 4 and 5, respectively.

Fani-Kayode described these incidents as “mortifying” and highlighted that they were the seventh and eighth Nigerians reportedly murdered in South Africa this year. He alleged that four of these deaths involved South African police officers and claimed that over 100 Nigerians had been killed in South Africa from 2022 to September 2026, with more than 30 deaths attributed to police and military personnel.

Fani-Kayode criticized the lack of arrests or prosecutions for these killings and called on the South African government to protect Nigerians. He also condemned threats from South African NGOs against African nationals, urging legal action against such intimidation.

He warned that continued violence against Nigerians could strain bilateral relations.