Nigeria has condemned the deaths of three of its citizens in separate incidents in South Africa, raising fresh concerns over the safety of foreign nationals amid a wave of xenophobic hostility in the country.
In a statement reported by Nigerian media on Tuesday, the Nigerian Consulate General in Johannesburg said the three men died between September 18 and 21 in different parts of South Africa, warning of what it described as a recurring pattern of attacks targeting Nigerians.
The diplomatic mission expressed deep concern over the incidents, saying they raised serious questions about the security of Nigerians and other foreign nationals in the country.
The victims were identified as Kenechukwu Christopher Igwemmadú, Olaniyi Olaleye Olatunde, and Christian Hillary Nnaemeka.
The first death occurred on September 18 in Bloemfontein, where Igwemmadú reportedly fell from a height while attempting to escape what the consulate described as police harassment and brutality. The mission did not provide further details about the circumstances.
Two days later, Olatunde, who worked as a security guard at a nightclub in Mamelodi East, Pretoria, was shot by an unidentified South African man following a confrontation inside the establishment.
According to the consulate, the dispute began when Olatunde attempted to prevent the customer from leaving with a glass belonging to the venue.
The man allegedly drew a firearm and shot the Nigerian in the lower body, causing severe injuries and substantial blood loss. Olatunde was taken to a hospital but died on the morning of September 21.
The third incident involved Nnaemeka, who died on the same day following an alleged assault by television personality Xolani Khumalo and members of his team in the municipality of Ekurhuleni, near Johannesburg.
Khumalo, who is also a candidate for mayor of the municipality, and his team allegedly detained, beat, and tortured Nnaemeka despite finding no incriminating evidence against him, according to the Nigerian consulate.
The diplomatic mission said the victim attempted to escape by jumping over a fence before being taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The consulate also recalled the February killing of another Nigerian national, Emeka Clement Uzor, who was shot during the filming of a drug enforcement operation by Khumalo's television program. No arrests have been made in connection with that death, the mission said.
New Anti-Immigration Protests Planned
The latest deaths come amid growing xenophobic tensions in South Africa, where anti-immigration groups have announced further demonstrations against foreign nationals.
The group March and March has called for protests on September 30, setting the date as a deadline for undocumented immigrants to leave the country.
The group and other anti-immigration movements accuse African migrants of contributing to South Africa's economic difficulties, strained public services, and high crime rates. Some have also reportedly sought to prevent foreign nationals from accessing public health care and education.
Government figures from the countries concerned indicate that approximately 180,000 citizens of Zimbabwe, Malawi, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo have been repatriated in recent months.
Xenophobic tensions have repeatedly erupted into violence in South Africa over the years, leaving dozens dead, particularly in economically vulnerable communities.
