Nigerian Envoy Demands Justice Over Killing of Two Citizens in South Africa

The Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg has condemned the killing of two Nigerians, identified as Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew, allegedly by personnel of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), calling for a thorough investigation and prosecution of those responsible.

The Consul-General, Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, said the tragic incidents had heightened concerns over the safety of Nigerians and other foreign nationals living in South Africa.

She stated that the separate killings had left the bereaved families, the Nigerian community, and diplomatic missions in shock and mourning.

Okey-Uche also warned against the growing tendency to generalise and label innocent Nigerians in South Africa as criminals, saying such stereotypes put law-abiding citizens at greater risk.

“On this, we are calling on South African authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators of the gruesome act to justice. Our position is that no matter what the allegations may be, there are lawful processes and steps to justice,” she said.

She stressed that every individual should be presumed innocent and granted fair hearing in a court of law, insisting that no one should take the law into their own hands under any circumstance.

She also appealed to Nigerians residing in South Africa to remain calm, law-abiding, and continue their legitimate daily activities while diplomatic and legal processes continue.

According to reports, Emmanuel died from injuries allegedly sustained after being beaten by military personnel on April 20, 2026, while Andrew was reportedly apprehended on April 19 in the Booysens area of Pretoria, with his body later discovered at the Pretoria Central Mortuary.

Meanwhile, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged Nigerians and other foreign nationals living in the country to respect South African laws, customs, and traditions.

Speaking during a Freedom Day address aired on SABC News amid renewed anti-foreigner tensions in parts of the country, Ramaphosa said foreigners residing legally in South Africa must respect the country’s systems and values.

“To those who are here legally, respect us as South Africans, respect our laws, respect our conventions and our traditions, as you would want us to respect the laws and traditions of your country,” he said.

He added that while South Africa remains committed to human rights and international cooperation, the government would continue to enforce immigration laws and deal with illegal immigration through lawful means.

To calm rising concerns, Nigeria’s Acting Ambassador to South Africa, Alexander Ajayi, maintained that Nigerians were not under any coordinated attack.

Also, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) issued safety advisories to Nigerians in South Africa, urging them to avoid confrontation with protesters, stay away from demonstration groups, and monitor local media for security updates.

The commission noted that protests in cities such as East London, Cape Town, Durban, and parts of KwaZulu-Natal had in some cases turned violent, leading to looting and destruction of property.

NiDCOM further disclosed that the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, was already engaging with her South African counterpart to address the situation and ensure the protection of Nigerians living in the country.