By Opeyemi Adelakun
Nigerian High Commissioner-designate to South Africa, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has called on the South African government to take stronger measures to protect Nigerians and ensure justice for nationals killed in the country.
Fani-Kayode made the call while reacting to the recent deaths of Bishop Michael Taiwo Fakunle and James Uchechukwu Nwankwo in Johannesburg.
According to him, Fakunle was killed by unknown assailants on September 4, 2026, while Nwankwo died on September 5 following what he described as alleged gruesome interrogation by officers of the South African Police Service.
Fani-Kayode said the two deaths had raised fresh concerns over the safety of Nigerians living in South Africa.
He said, “I am mortified and deeply shocked to hear about the murder of Bishop Michael Taiwo Fakunle by unknown elements in Johannesburg on September 4th.
“After issuing a series of threats his killers went to his home and shot him dead. I am equally shocked to hear about the murder of Mr. James Uchechukwu Nwankwo by officers of the South African Police Service again in Johannesburg on September 5th.
“He died as a consequence of what has been described as gruesome interrogation techniques by the South African police.”
Fani-Kayode said Fakunle and Nwankwo were the seventh and eighth Nigerians reportedly killed in South Africa in 2026.
He further claimed that at least four of the eight deaths this year involved South African police officers.
“Bishop Fakunle and Mr. Nwankwo are the 7th and 8th Nigerians to have been murdered in South Africa this year alone.
“No less than 4 amongst the 8 were murdered by South African police officers. Outside of that over 100 Nigerian nationals have been murdered in South Africa between 2022 and today and over 30 of them were killed by officers of the South African Police Service and South African Defence Force.
“What is most disturbing is the fact that in spite of our constant expressions of concern about this disturbing state of affairs not one person has been arrested, detained, prosecuted or brought to justice for ANY of these heinous crimes. This is unacceptable.”
The former minister urged Pretoria to do more to safeguard Nigerians and ensure that those responsible for the deaths were held accountable.
“We call on the South African Government to do far more to protect our nationals and to bring those that have killed or are planning to kill them to justice.
“No-one deserves to be targetted and murdered simply because they are Nigerian,” he added.
Fani-Kayode said the Nigerian community in South Africa and the Nigerian diplomatic mission remained deeply concerned about the situation.
He also raised concern over what he described as a fresh September 30 deadline issued by some South African non-governmental organisations for African nationals, including Nigerians, to leave the country.
According to him, the organisations had allegedly threatened African nationals who failed to comply with the deadline.
“Equally disturbing is the fact that yet another deadline has been issued to African nationals, including Nigerians, to leave South Africa by September 30th.
“This deadline, like the last one, was issued by a number of brazenly racist, xenophobic and Afrophobic South African Non-Governmental Organisations who have openly threatened to target and harm our nationals if their illegal deadline is not complied with.”
Fani-Kayode urged the South African government to protect Nigerians from what he described as the excesses of the organisations and their members.
He also called for justice for Nigerians who, according to him, had suffered trauma, terror, torture and killings in the country.
Fani-Kayode said Nigeria would continue to pursue stronger relations with South Africa but stressed that killings and discrimination against Nigerians must stop.
He added that Nigerians living in South Africa deserved the same protection accorded South Africans in Nigeria.
He prayed for the repose of the souls of Fakunle and Nwankwo.
“May the souls of Bishop Taiwo Fakunle and Mr. James Uchechukwu Nwankwor rest in peace,” he said.
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