Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
Nigeria’s Federal Government has condemned the deaths of three Nigerian nationals in separate incidents in South Africa between September 18 and 21, 2026, and called for thorough, transparent and expeditious investigations into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the incidents had raised fresh concerns about the safety of Nigerians and other foreign nationals in South Africa, particularly amid continuing concerns over xenophobia and Afrophobia.
The three Nigerians were identified as Kenechukwu Christopher Igwemmadu, Olaniyi Olaleye Olatunde and Christian Hillary Nnaemeka. Their deaths occurred in Bloemfontein, Pretoria and Primrose in Ekurhuleni.
The Federal Government’s position was contained in a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, on Wednesday, September 30.
The government said South African authorities should establish the circumstances surrounding each death and ensure that anyone found responsible is dealt with according to the law.
Three deaths reported between September 18 and 21
The first reported death involved Kenechukwu Christopher Igwemmadu, who died in Bloemfontein on September 18.
According to the Nigerian Consulate-General in Johannesburg, Igwemmadu allegedly jumped from a building at Kenlin Court on Douglas Street in the Central Business District while attempting to escape what the consulate described as police harassment and brutality.
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain subject to investigation, and the allegation concerning police conduct has not been established as a court finding.
The second incident occurred on September 20 in Mamelodi East, Pretoria, where Nigerian security guard Olaniyi Olaleye Olatunde was reportedly shot at the Spanata Bar and Grills Night Club.
The Nigerian Consulate said Olatunde became involved in an altercation with a customer after attempting to prevent the person from leaving the premises with a cup belonging to the establishment.
According to the consulate’s account, the customer allegedly produced a firearm and shot Olatunde. He was taken to Mamelodi Hospital but died from his injuries the following morning.
The alleged shooter was reported to have fled the scene. The circumstances and responsibility for the killing are expected to be established through the relevant South African investigation.
The third death involved Christian Hillary Nnaemeka, who died on September 21 in Primrose, Ekurhuleni.
The Nigerian Consulate said Nnaemeka had an alleged encounter with South African politician and investigative content creator Xolani Khumalo and members of his Sizok’thola team.
The consulate alleged that Nnaemeka was assaulted during the encounter before attempting to escape. It said he later collapsed and was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Those allegations have not been established as facts by a court, making an independent investigation important to determining exactly what happened and whether anyone should face criminal responsibility.
Nigerian government calls for investigation
The Federal Government’s latest statement follows an earlier call by the Nigerian Consulate-General in Johannesburg for South African authorities to investigate the deaths.
Consul-General Ninikanwa Okey-Uche said the incidents were deeply troubling and raised concerns about the safety of Nigerians and other foreign nationals living in South Africa.
The consulate called for the circumstances of the deaths to be thoroughly investigated and for anyone found responsible to face the law. It also urged Nigerians in South Africa to remain calm, law-abiding and security-conscious.
Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has also condemned the deaths.
The Associated Press reported that Fani-Kayode said the three deaths brought the number of Nigerians killed in South Africa during 2026 to 12 and the number since 2022 to 112. Those figures are attributed to the Nigerian official and should be understood in that context.
Deaths come amid wider concerns over treatment of foreigners
The latest incidents come at a time of heightened concern over the treatment of foreign nationals in South Africa.
Nigeria has already taken steps to facilitate the return of citizens who wish to leave the country amid concerns over xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in September that another 33 Nigerians had been evacuated from South Africa, bringing the total number of Nigerians returned through the government’s consular evacuation exercise to 1,716 at that point.
The evacuation programme began in June 2026. An earlier Ministry of Foreign Affairs press release said the Federal Government was fully funding the return of affected Nigerians in the relevant evacuation exercise and providing reception and support arrangements for returnees.
The continuing diplomatic concern reflects a broader challenge facing Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa, where disputes over immigration, employment, crime and access to economic opportunities have periodically contributed to tensions involving foreign nationals.
However, the circumstances of the three latest deaths differ from one another. They involve allegations concerning police conduct, a shooting during an altercation and an alleged confrontation involving a private investigative content-creation team. The available accounts therefore do not, by themselves, establish that all three deaths were motivated by xenophobia.
Determining whether there was a common motive or connection requires evidence from the respective investigations.
Nigeria seeks accountability
For Nigeria, the immediate issue is establishing the facts behind each death and ensuring that due process is followed.
The government’s demand for transparent investigations places responsibility on the relevant South African authorities to establish what happened in each case, identify those responsible where evidence supports such action and ensure that any prosecution proceeds through the appropriate legal channels.
The approach also allows the two countries to address individual criminal cases without prematurely treating allegations as established facts.
The Nigerian Consulate has maintained that Nigerian citizens and other foreigners living in South Africa should be protected and treated according to the law.
The consulate has also urged Nigerians in the country to remain calm and avoid retaliatory action while diplomatic and legal channels are pursued.
A continuing diplomatic issue
The latest deaths add to an already difficult period in Nigeria-South Africa relations.
Earlier in 2026, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry condemned the deaths of two other Nigerians in South Africa and called for action over allegations involving security personnel and unidentified criminals. The government also warned that continued attacks on Nigerians could have consequences while stressing the importance of dialogue and African solidarity.
Nigeria has simultaneously continued diplomatic engagement with South Africa while supporting citizens who want to return home.
This combination of diplomatic engagement, consular assistance and demands for investigations means the latest cases are likely to remain an issue for both countries as authorities establish the facts.
For families of the three deceased Nigerians, however, the immediate concern is accountability and clarity over how their relatives died.
What happens next
The next significant development will be the outcome of investigations by South African authorities into the three deaths.
The Nigerian government has called for the investigations to be thorough, transparent and expeditious. Any arrests, prosecutions or official findings would provide further information about responsibility and the circumstances surrounding each case.
Until those processes are completed, allegations concerning police conduct, the shooting in Pretoria and the circumstances surrounding Nnaemeka’s death should not be treated as established findings.
The Nigerian diplomatic mission is expected to continue monitoring the cases and engaging South African authorities over the welfare and protection of Nigerians in the country.
The cases also underscore the importance of reliable investigations when deaths involving foreign nationals generate diplomatic concerns. Establishing the facts through evidence and due process will be central to determining responsibility and addressing the wider concerns raised by Nigeria.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs — official ministry information and statements on Nigerians in South Africa and consular evacuation.
- Associated Press — report on the three Nigerian deaths and figures provided by Nigerian authorities.
- Punch Newspapers — report on the Nigerian Consulate-General’s account of the three deaths.
- The ICIR — report on the consulate’s call for investigations.
- Vanguard — report on the consulate’s account and call for justice.
