Fani-Kayode Urges Justice for Nigerians Killed in South Africa

Femi Fani-Kayode, the ambassador-designate of Nigeria to South Africa, has warned that Nigeria's patience is diminishing regarding the ongoing killings of Nigerians in South Africa. He made this statement while seeking justice for two Nigerians, Bishop Michael Taiwo Fakunle, who was shot dead at his home in Kensington, Johannesburg, on September 4, and James Uchechukwu Nwankwo, who died on September 5 during an incident involving the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Fani-Kayode stated that Fakunle had received threats prior to his murder and described Nwankwo's death as a result of "gruesome interrogation techniques" by the police. He noted that these two deaths marked the seventh and eighth Nigerians killed in South Africa in 2023, with four of those deaths allegedly at the hands of police officers.

Fani-Kayode claimed over 100 Nigerians have been killed in South Africa since 2022, with more than 30 attributed to SAPS and the South African Defence Force. He criticized the lack of accountability for these crimes and called for the South African government to enhance protections for Nigerians and prosecute those responsible.