Two more Nigerians have been killed in South Africa amid rising anti-migrant tensions, prompting the Nigerian government to demand justice and warn that it may take further action if the attacks continue.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the victims were identified as Emeka Charles Iroegbu and Musa Yunana Joe. Both men were killed in separate incidents on June 28.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said Iroegbu allegedly died after officers of the Tshwane Metro Police subjected him to what he described as “gruesome interrogation techniques” in Sunnyside, Pretoria.
Ebienfa also alleged that the same officers were linked to the earlier extrajudicial killing of another Nigerian, Nnaemeka Mathew Andrew Ekpenyong, whose case remains unresolved.
He said no arrests have been made despite claims that the identities of the four officers involved are known to the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The second victim, Musa Yunana Joe, popularly known as Big Joe, was reportedly shot dead in front of his shop in Witbank, Mpumalanga. Authorities have yet to identify or arrest those responsible for the killing.
The latest deaths come months after the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg confirmed that two Nigerians were killed during a wave of xenophobic violence that escalated in April. Some repatriated Nigerians have, however, claimed that the actual death toll is higher.
The Nigerian government expressed concern over what it described as a growing pattern of attacks on its citizens in South Africa, accusing some security personnel, particularly officers of the Tshwane Metro Police, of complicity.
“The continuing pattern of such terrible incidents is clearly evidence of complicity on the part of security operatives, especially officers of the Tshwane Metro Police, which raises the question of state responsibility under international law,” Ebienfa said.
He added that records compiled by Nigeria’s diplomatic missions point to possible criminal liability and argued that it was unfair to portray Nigerians as criminals or make them scapegoats for South Africa’s socio-economic challenges.
The Federal Government called on South African authorities to immediately investigate the latest killings, as well as other unresolved cases involving Nigerian nationals, and ensure that those responsible are prosecuted.
Ebienfa warned that Nigeria could activate additional measures if the attacks and what he described as “apartheid-style behaviour” against foreigners continue unchecked.
He also extended the Federal Government’s condolences to the families of the victims and pledged that Nigeria would continue engaging South African authorities until justice is served.
