S’Africa silent as outrage trails killing of two Nigerians

The recent killings of two Nigerian nationals, Bishop Michael Fakunle and James Nwankwo, in South Africa have sparked outrage among Nigerians. Fakunle, who was shot dead at his residence in Johannesburg on September 4, had reportedly received a series of threats. Nwankwo, on the other hand, died on September 5 after what was described as "gruesome interrogation techniques" allegedly used by South African Police Service officers.

Femi Fani-Kayode, Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to South Africa, highlighted that these killings mark the seventh and eighth murders of Nigerians in the country this year, with over 100 Nigerians allegedly murdered between 2022 and today, 30 of them by police or defense force officers. The ambassador-designate called the perpetrators "racist, xenophobic and Afrophobic" and urged South Africa to take action against these acts.

The National Assembly of Nigeria suspended all official visits to South Africa and directed its members to boycott legislative activities hosted by South African authorities. South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, stated that this decision had not affected bilateral relations between the two countries and that South Africa was willing to engage with Nigeria over the issues.