Nigeria Warns South Africa of Tough Action Over Killing of Citizens
The Federal Government has warned that Nigeria may consider additional measures if attacks on its citizens in South Africa persist, following the killing of two Nigerians in separate incidents on 28 June 2026.
The victims, Emeka Charles Iroegbu and Musa Yunana Joe (popularly known as Big Joe), were killed in Pretoria and Witbank respectively. Iroegbu was allegedly tortured to death by officers of the Tshwane Metro Police, while Joe was shot dead by unidentified criminals outside his shop.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, condemned the killings through a statement issued by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa. The government placed South Africa on notice that “all options remain on the table” if the trend of intolerance and violence against Nigerians continues.
The statement highlighted that the same Tshwane Metro Police officers implicated in Iroegbu’s death had allegedly been involved in the extrajudicial killing of another Nigerian, Nnaemeka Mathew Andrew Ekpenyong, in April, with no arrests made.
The Nigerian Consul General in Johannesburg, Ambassador Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, also issued a statement confirming the circumstances of the deaths and calling for immediate investigations.
The Nigerian Union in South Africa, through its spokesperson Akindele Olunloyo, urged citizens there to remain calm, law-abiding, and vigilant while the community works with the Nigerian High Commission and Consulate to monitor the situation.
The government described the incidents as part of a disturbing pattern and warned against attempts to stereotype Nigerians as criminals. It appealed to Nigerians not to engage in retaliatory actions, stressing the importance of African unity and dialogue. The evacuation process for those wishing to leave South Africa continues.
