The Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Femi Fani-Kayode, has raised the alarm over the spate of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in the country, DECENCY GLOBAL NEWS reports.
In a statement he issued on Saturday, the High Commissioner disclosed that more than 100 Nigerians have been killed in such attacks in the last four years, 30 of which he said were masterminded by the South African police and the country’s defence force.
Among the most recent incidents were the murder of Bishop Michael Taiwo by some gunmen in Johannesburg penultimate Friday and the killing of Mr James Uchechukwu Nwankwo by officers of the South African Police Service the following day.
He described the duo as the last two of eight Nigerians to have been murdered in South Africa this year alone.
“I am mortified and deeply shocked to hear about the murder of Bishop Michael Taiwo Fakunle by unknown elements in Johannesburg on September 4,” he said.
“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 5.
“He died as a consequence of what has been described as ‘gruesome interrogation techniques’ by the South African police.
“Bishop Fakunle and Mr Nwankwo are the 7th and 8th Nigerians to have been murdered in South Africa this year alone.
“No fewer than four amongst the eight 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.”
Ambassador Fani-Kayode expressed worries that not a single arrest had been made in spite of the wide expression of concern.
He said: “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.
“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 targeted and murdered simply because they are Nigerian.
“The Nigerian community in South Africa is deeply disturbed by these developments and lives in trepidation of what could happen next.
“So is the Nigerian Mission in South Africa.
“Equally disturbing is the fact that yet another deadline has been issued to African nationals, including Nigerians, to leave South Africa by September 30.
“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.”
He called on the South African Government to protect Nigerians “from the excesses of these racist organisations and their misguided members, and to apply the full weight of the law against them for their lawless behaviour.
“We also call on the South African Government to bring to justice those that take pleasure in traumatising, terrorising, torturing and killing our nationals.
“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.
“Simply put, our patience is wearing thin.
“South Africans are not targeted and killed in Nigeria by our people or our security forces.
“The least the South African Government can do is to reciprocate this gesture, protect our nationals and address our legitimate concerns.
“May the souls of Bishop Taiwo Fakunle and Mr James Uchechukwu Nwankwo rest in peace.”
