The Federal Government has confirmed the deaths of two Nigerians in separate incidents amid renewed xenophobic and anti-migrant tensions in South Africa.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday by its spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, identifying the victims as Taiwo Fakunle and James Nwankwo.
According to the ministry, Fakunle was killed at his residence in Kensington, Johannesburg, on September 4, while Nwankwo reportedly died a day later during what the ministry described as “gruesome interrogation techniques” by officers of the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Somerset, Cape Town.
The latest deaths occurred about two months after two other Nigerians were killed amid renewed anti-migrant tensions in South Africa.
In recent months, Nigerians and other African nationals in the country have faced attacks and destruction of property linked to growing xenophobic sentiments.
The ministry said the latest incidents had raised questions about the commitment of South African authorities to preventing targeted attacks against foreigners.
It also expressed concern over the alleged involvement of law enforcement officers in the incidents and the reported use of “unacceptable interrogation techniques”, which it said had repeatedly resulted in the deaths of foreigners.
The Federal Government further raised concerns over South Africa’s refusal to sign a memorandum of understanding aimed at establishing an early warning mechanism. The mechanism had reportedly been agreed upon during bilateral discussions between both countries.
The Nigerian government called on South African authorities to carry out thorough and transparent investigations into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Fakunle and Nwankwo.
It also demanded that anyone found responsible be identified and brought to justice.
The ministry said the Federal Government was actively considering “other concrete measures” to secure greater cooperation from South Africa after previous diplomatic efforts.
Among the measures being considered is the possibility of taking the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Nigerians and other Africans to the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS and the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.
The development came on the same day the National Assembly suspended all legislative engagements with South Africa over the continued attacks against Nigerians.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
