The Federal Government of Nigeria has formally conveyed its concern over the attacks on its nationals in the ongoing protest against foreigners.
Nigeria recently recorded two deaths.
The Nigeria government summoned South Africa’s Acting High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lesole Machile on Monday.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dunoma Umar Ahmed, who met with the Acting South Africa High Commissioner tabled Nigeria’s concern.
During the meeting, Nigeria outlined specific issues it described as deeply troubling and unacceptable: Escalating threats and violence against Nigerians and other African nationals amid anti-immigrant demonstrations
The activities of pressure groups such as Operation Dudula, accused of promoting hostility toward foreigners
Alleged incitement linked to individuals including Jacinta Zuma Officials said viral videos and reports from Nigeria’s diplomatic missions in Pretoria and Johannesburg indicate a pattern of harassment, intimidation, and physical attacks against foreign residents.
Central to Nigeria’s protest are the deaths of two citizens in April under contentious circumstances.
Matthew Andrew Ekpenyong reportedly died on April 21 while in custody of the Tshwane Metro Police Department, after allegedly sustaining injuries inflicted by members of the South African National Defence Force
Kelvin Chidebere Amaramiro died on April 25 at a hospital in Eastern Cape following an alleged assault by security personnel
Nigerian authorities described both incidents as indicative of possible misconduct by state security agents and demanded urgent accountability.
The Nigerian delegation, led by Permanent Secretary Dunoma Umar Ahmed, called for: Immediate, thorough, and impartial investigations into both deaths, Full disclosure of autopsy reports and case documentation, Regular briefings to Nigerian authorities on investigative progress, Prosecution of any officials found culpable.
Nigeria also stressed the need for South Africa to uphold the rights of lawful residents, ensure due process in arrests, and halt profiling based on nationality.
As part of efforts to manage rising tensions, both countries are moving toward activating a bilateral Early Warning Mechanism aimed at facilitating rapid information sharing and coordinated responses to emerging threats.
While Nigeria has already signed the Memorandum of Understanding, South Africa is expected to finalize its endorsement soon. The framework will establish joint monitoring structures to detect and de-escalate crises before they escalate into violence.
Machile reiterated that the South African government does not endorse the protests or any form of violence against foreign nationals. She assured that Nigeria’s concerns would be formally relayed to Pretoria and reaffirmed her country’s commitment to continued diplomatic engagement.
However, Nigerian officials maintained that assurances must translate into concrete action, insisting that only visible and measurable steps will restore confidence among Nigerians living in South Africa.
Citizens in South Africa were urged to remain calm and avoid retaliatory actions.
While reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to bilateral relations, officials signaled that continued inaction could trigger reciprocal measures, noting South Africa’s substantial economic footprint in Nigeria.
“The world is watching,” an official said. “Condemnation alone is not enough—we must see justice done.”
