By Ado Oyeyemi
The Nigerian Consulate-General in Johannesburg has raised concerns over the safety of Nigerians in South Africa following the deaths of three nationals in separate incidents within four days.
The Consul-General, Ambassador Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, saying the three Nigerians were killed between September 18 and 21, 2026.
The deceased were identified as Kenechukwu Christopher Igwemmadú, Olaniyi Olaleye Olatunde and Christian Hillary Nnaemeka.
According to the Consulate, Igwemmadú died on September 18 after he allegedly jumped from a building while attempting to escape police harassment and brutality at Kenlin Court on Douglas Street in the Central Business District of Bloemfontein.
Two days later, Olatunde, a security guard at Spanata Bar and Grills Night Club in Mamelodi East, Pretoria, was shot during an altercation with a South African customer.
The Consulate said the dispute began when Olatunde tried to stop the customer from leaving the club with a cup belonging to the establishment.
The customer allegedly pulled out a firearm and shot Olatunde in the lower part of his body, causing severe injuries and heavy blood loss. He was taken to Mamelodi Hospital, where he later died from his injuries and was pronounced dead by doctors on September 21.
The Consulate alleged that the shooter initially fled the scene but later returned to the club and threatened witnesses who might report the incident or identify him to the police.
The third victim, Nnaemeka, allegedly died on September 21 following an encounter with South African politician and investigative content creator, Xolani Khumalo, and members of his Sizok’thola content team in Primrose, Ekurhuleni.
The Consulate alleged that Nnaemeka was arrested, assaulted and tortured by members of the team during an operation, despite the team reportedly finding nothing incriminating on him.
It said Nnaemeka allegedly attempted to escape by jumping over a fence but later collapsed from injuries and exhaustion. He was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The Consulate also recalled the February 9 death of another Nigerian, Emeka Clement Uzor, who it said was shot by Khumalo’s reality television crew in Windsor East, Randburg.
It expressed concern that the latest deaths had occurred in quick succession, saying the incidents raised questions about the safety of Nigerians and other foreign nationals in South Africa.
The Consulate called on South African authorities to thoroughly investigate the incidents and ensure that anyone found responsible was prosecuted.
It also stressed that allegations of criminality must not be used as justification for extrajudicial actions, noting that suspects should be presumed innocent and given a fair hearing in court.
The statement urged Nigerians living in South Africa to remain calm, law-abiding and security-conscious amid what it described as ongoing xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks, threats and insecurity affecting vulnerable black African foreigners, particularly Nigerians.
Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, also condemned the latest deaths, saying they had increased the number of Nigerians killed in the country in 2026 to 12.
Fani-Kayode said 112 Nigerians had been killed in South Africa since 2022, alleging that 32 of the victims were killed by members of the South African security forces.
He further claimed that none of those responsible for the killings had been brought to justice or convicted, and appealed to the South African authorities to protect Nigerians and prosecute perpetrators.
READ ALSO
- Fear as kidnappers abduct teacher, two others in community
- Freed NYSC abductees offered South-West postings after N6m ransom
- Four arrested as farmer-herder clash claims life
- Building collapse kills mother, teenage daughter
- Family demands probe as man dies in Osun police cell
The Consulate-General condoled with the families of the three deceased Nigerians, assuring that it would continue to pursue the welfare and fair treatment of Nigerians living in South Africa.
