Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has cautioned Pretoria to cease attacks and discrimination against Nigerians, stating that Nigeria’s patience is “wearing thin.”
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| Fani-Kayode |
Fani-Kayode spoke after the reported deaths of two Nigerians, Bishop Michael Taiwo Fakunle and James Uchechukwu Nwankwo, in Johannesburg. He said he was “mortified and deeply shocked” by Fakunle’s reported murder on September 4.
According to him, the bishop received threats before unknown assailants went to his home and shot him.
Fani-Kayode also expressed concern over Nwankwo’s death on September 5, alleging he died following what he called ‘gruesome interrogation techniques” by officers of the South African Police Service.
He called the situation ‘unacceptable” and emphasized that no Nigerian should be “targeted and murdered simply because they are Nigerian.”
The former aviation minister said the Nigerian community in South Africa was “deeply disturbed” and living in fear for the safety of its members. Fani-Kayode further claimed that over 30 Nigerians had been killed by South African police and defense personnel since 2022, with more than 100 Nigerians dying in the country during that period.
These figures were presented as his allegations.
He also raised concerns about an alleged September 30 deadline issued by some South African groups for African nationals, including Nigerians, to leave the country.
He described these groups as “brazenly racist, xenophobic, and Afrophobic.”
Fani-Kayode urged the South African government to protect Nigerians and prosecute anyone responsible for attacks or threats.
“If this vicious cycle of discrimination against and killing of our nationals does not stop, there will be consequences,” he warned.
Nigeria continues to press South Africa to take concrete action against recurring xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians and other African nationals.
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