Nigeria demands justice over death of 3 nationals in South Africa

The Nigerian Consulate General in Johannesburg has demanded justice for the deaths of three Nigerian nationals in South Africa. The deaths occurred between September 18th and 21st amid growing concerns over the safety of Nigerians in the country. Consul-General Amb. Ninikanwa Okey-Uche disclosed this in a statement, urging South African authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Kenechukwu Igwemmadu, Olaniyi Olatunde, and Christian Nnaemeka.

She noted that Igwemmadu died after jumping from a building on September 18th while trying to escape alleged police harassment in Bloemfontein. Olatunde, a security guard, was allegedly shot by an unidentified individual following an argument over a cup at a club in Pretoria, and passed away two days later on September 21st. Nnaemeka was reportedly assaulted and tortured by members of Xolani Khumalo's Sizok’thola team before collapsing in Primrose, Ekurhuleni, and was pronounced dead in a hospital on September 21st.

Okey-Uche highlighted that no arrests have been made in Khumalo's death, amid rising concerns over xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks, threats, and ill-treatment of Africans in South Africa. She stressed the need for due process, with suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.