Author: Gist Correspondent

Former Minister of Aviation and High Commissioner-designate to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has warned that Nigeria’s patience is wearing thin over the alleged killings of its nationals in the country.

Fani-Kayode, in a statement on Saturday, condemned the alleged murders of Bishop Michael Taiwo Fakunle and James Uchechukwu Nwankwo in Johannesburg on September 4 and 5 respectively.

He described the incidents as “mortifying” and deeply disturbing, stressing that the continued failure to prosecute those responsible could have consequences for relations between Nigeria and South Africa.

According to him, Fakunle was allegedly killed at his residence by unknown assailants after receiving several threats, while Nwankwo died following what he described as “gruesome interrogation techniques” by officers of the South African Police Service.

Fani-Kayode claimed the two men were the seventh and eighth Nigerians reportedly killed in South Africa this year, alleging that four of the eight deaths involved South African police officers.

He further claimed that more than 100 Nigerians had been killed in South Africa between 2022 and September 2026, with over 30 of the deaths allegedly involving personnel of the South African Police Service and South African Defence Force.

The former minister expressed concern that despite repeated representations by the Nigerian Government, no person had been arrested, detained, prosecuted or brought to justice over the alleged killings.

“This is unacceptable,” he said, urging the South African Government to intensify efforts to protect Nigerians living in the country and ensure that perpetrators of killings and threats were brought to justice.

“No-one deserves to be targeted and murdered simply because they are Nigerian,” he added.

Fani-Kayode said the Nigerian community in South Africa was increasingly living in fear, adding that the Nigerian Mission in the country was also concerned about the developments.

He also condemned a fresh deadline allegedly issued by some South African non-governmental organisations asking African nationals, including Nigerians, to leave the country by September 30.

He described the groups as “brazenly racist, xenophobic and Afrophobic” and alleged that they had threatened to target African nationals who failed to comply with the directive.

Fani-Kayode urged the South African Government to protect Nigerians against such alleged threats and intimidation, and to apply the law against anyone found responsible.

He said Nigeria’s efforts to deepen relations with South Africa must go hand in hand with the protection of the safety, dignity and rights of Nigerians resident in the country.

“Whilst we seek to establish stronger and deeper ties with the South African Government, one thing remains clear. If this vicious cycle of discrimination against and killing of our nationals does not stop, there will be consequences,” he warned.

“Simply put, our patience is wearing thin.”

Fani-Kayode also argued that South Africans were not being targeted and killed in Nigeria by Nigerians or Nigerian security personnel, urging South Africa to reciprocate by protecting Nigerians and addressing their concerns.

He prayed for the repose of the souls of Fakunle and Nwankwo.