The Nigerian Consulate-General in Johannesburg has called on South African authorities to investigate the deaths of three Nigerians in separate incidents within four days, amid renewed concerns over the safety of Nigerians living in the country.
The Consul-General, Amb. Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, identifying the deceased as Kenechukwu Christopher Igwemmadú, Olaniyi Olaleye Olatunde and Christian Hillary Nnaemeka.
The incidents occurred between September 18 and 21, 2026, in Bloemfontein, Pretoria and Ekurhuleni.
Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, said the latest deaths brought the number of Nigerians killed in the country this year to 12, while 112 had been killed since 2022.
He further claimed that 32 of the victims since 2022 were killed by members of the South African security forces.
“Not one person has been brought to justice or convicted for ANY of these crimes,” Fani-Kayode said, calling on South African authorities to protect Nigerians and prosecute those responsible.
According to the Consulate, Igwemmadú allegedly jumped to his death on September 18 while attempting to escape what it described as police harassment and brutality at Kenlin Court on Douglas Street in the Central Business District of Bloemfontein.
Two days later, Olatunde, who worked as a security guard at Spanata Bar and Grills Night Club in Mamelodi East, Pretoria, was shot during an altercation with a South African customer.
The Consulate said the customer allegedly attempted to leave the club with a cup belonging to the establishment. When Olatunde tried to stop him, an argument reportedly ensued, during which the customer allegedly drew a firearm and shot him in the lower body.
Olatunde sustained serious injuries and lost a significant amount of blood. The alleged shooter reportedly fled but later returned to the club and threatened witnesses who might identify him to the police, according to the Consulate.
Olatunde was taken to Mamelodi Hospital, where he died from his injuries. Doctors confirmed his death on the morning of September 21.
The third case involved Nnaemeka, who the Consulate said was allegedly assaulted and tortured during an operation by the Sizok’thola content creation team led by South African politician and investigative content creator Xolani Khumalo in Primrose, Ekurhuleni, on September 21.
According to the Consulate, members of the team allegedly arrested and assaulted Nnaemeka despite reportedly finding nothing incriminating on him.
“The encounter allegedly led to assault, torture and death,” the statement said.
It added that Nnaemeka attempted to escape by jumping over a fence but later collapsed from his injuries and exhaustion. He was taken to hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.
The Consulate also recalled the February 9, 2026, killing of another Nigerian, Emeka Clement Uzor, who it alleged was shot dead by Khumalo’s reality television crew in Windsor East, Randburg.
The Consulate expressed concern that no arrests had been made in Uzor’s case, adding that Khumalo was currently running for election as mayor of Ekurhuleni.
It described the three recent deaths as deeply troubling and said their occurrence within a short period raised concerns about what it perceived as a pattern of attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
The Consulate called on the relevant South African authorities to conduct thorough investigations and ensure that anyone found responsible was prosecuted.
It also stressed that allegations of criminal conduct should not be used to justify violence outside the law.
“In cases where allegations may exist, no matter what the allegations may be, there are processes and steps to justice. All should be presumed innocent and granted fair hearing in a court of law. No one should take laws into their own hands,” the statement said.
The Consulate appealed to Nigerians in South Africa to remain calm, law-abiding and security-conscious amid reports of xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks, threats and other forms of ill-treatment against foreign nationals.
Fani-Kayode also condemned the killings and urged the South African government to take measures to protect Nigerians and bring those responsible to justice.
The Consulate extended its condolences to the families of the three deceased Nigerians, reaffirming its commitment to protecting the welfare and fair treatment of Nigerian nationals in South Africa.
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