ABUJA, Nigeria — The Federal Government has condemned the killing of two Nigerians in South Africa and demanded thorough, transparent and speedy investigations into the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs made the demand in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, in Abuja.
The ministry identified the deceased as Bishop Taiwo Fakunle and James Uchechukwu Nwankwo.
According to the statement, Fakunle was killed at his residence in Kensington, Johannesburg, on September 4, while Nwankwo was murdered on September 5 in Sommerset, Cape Town.
The Federal Government expressed concern that the deaths occurred amid continuing concerns over xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks targeting foreigners, particularly other Africans, in South Africa.
It said the incidents raised questions about the safety of foreigners in the country and the commitment of South African authorities to preventing attacks against them.
“It is extremely worrisome that law enforcement agents, saddled with the responsibility of securing lives and property, are exacerbating an already fragile situation by resorting to unacceptable interrogation techniques that have frequently led to the deaths of foreigners,” the ministry said.
Nigeria condemned the killings “in the strongest terms possible” and called on the relevant South African authorities to immediately commence investigations aimed at identifying those responsible and bringing them to justice.
The ministry said Nigeria expected the matter to receive the urgency and attention required.
It also stressed that Nigeria remained committed to constructive dialogue with South Africa as a means of addressing concerns surrounding xenophobia and Afrophobia.
The Federal Government further expressed concern over the delayed implementation of an early-warning mechanism designed to enable both countries to respond to emerging threats.
According to the ministry, Nigeria has signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of an Early Warning Mechanism arising from the Nigeria-South Africa dialogue, but South Africa was yet to sign the agreement.
The ministry recalled that Nigeria had formally raised the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa before the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
It added that Nigeria’s formal complaint had also been presented to the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
“As a follow-up to these diplomatic steps, the Government of Nigeria is actively considering other concrete measures to secure the cooperation of the South African authorities on this matter,” the ministry said.
The Federal Government extended its condolences to the families of Fakunle and Nwankwo, as well as their friends and the wider Nigerian community in South Africa.
