ABUJA, NIGERIA: The Federal Government of Nigeria condemned the killing of two Nigerian nationals in South Africa and demanded an urgent investigation on Sunday, July 5, 2026.
Okay News reports that Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa issued a statement identifying the victims as Emeka Charles Iroegbu and Musa Yunana Joe.
Ebienfa stated that officers of the Tshwane Metro Police killed Iroegbu during an interrogation in Sunnyside, Pretoria, on June 28, 2026. The ministry added that unidentified criminals killed Joe outside his shop in Witbank, Mpumalanga, on the same date.
“The Government of Nigeria, therefore, calls on the South African authorities to conduct urgent investigations into the two killings and several other pending cases of extra-judicial killings of Nigerian nationals in South Africa, and ensure that the perpetrators of the heinous crimes are brought to justice without further delay,” Ebienfa said.
The ministry alleged that the same police officers were responsible for the death of another Nigerian, Nnaemeka Mathew Andrew Ekpenyong, on April 20, 2026. The government noted that no arrests have occurred despite the South African Police Service knowing the identities of four officers involved.
The statement condemned recent remarks by a South African Government spokesperson regarding Nigerians leaving the country.
“The unguarded public statements are unacceptable and are strongly condemned. Such derogatory, unprofessional and uncensored generalised public statements by highly placed government officials constitute hate speech that influences and incites negative and criminal actions against members of the Nigerian community,” Ebienfa said.
The ministry confirmed that the evacuation of registered Nigerians from South Africa is ongoing.
