Abdication of The Duty of The Federal Govt To Protect Nigerians In South Africa

On 4 September 2026, two Nigerian nationals were killed in Johannesburg: Bishop Michael Taiwo Fakunle, a cleric, and James Uchechukwu Nwankwo, a businessman. The Bishop had reportedly received threats prior to his death, while Nwankwo was allegedly subjected to "gruesome interrogation techniques" by South African police. According to the Nigerian High Commissioner, Femi Fani-Kayode, the pair were among eight Nigerians killed in South Africa in 2026, with four deaths allegedly caused by South African police.

Over 100 Nigerians had been killed in the country between 2022 and 2026, including over 30 allegedly by South African police and military officers. Despite numerous expressions of concern, no arrests, prosecutions, or convictions have been made in these cases. The Nigerian government has condemned the killings, but has not taken effective action to secure justice for the victims.

The Federal Government has an obligation under both domestic and international law to protect Nigerian citizens and investigate human rights violations committed abroad. The African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, both of which Nigeria is a signatory, guarantee the right to life, protection from torture, and effective remedies for victims of human rights abuses.

The African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights has previously found Burkina Faso responsible for failing to investigate the assassination of a journalist and ordered reparations to his family. Nigeria should now consider taking South Africa to the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights in order to hold the South African authorities accountable for these continued violations of Nigerian citizens' rights.