Xenophobia: ‎FG Condemns Murder of Two Nigerians in South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire‎

The Federal Government of Nigeria has condemned the killing of two Nigerian citizens in South Africa and the murder of a trader in Côte d’Ivoire, demanding that those responsible be brought to justice.

‎

‎In a statement issued on Sunday, 5th July, by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the government identified one of the victims as Emeka Charles Iroegbu, who was allegedly killed by officers of the Tshwane Metro Police on June 28, 2026, in Sunnyside, Pretoria.

‎

‎

‎The FG also expressed concern over what it described as the growing insecurity facing Nigerians living in South Africa amid renewed xenophobic and Afrophobic tensions.

‎

‎

‎

‎According to the ministry, the same officers had earlier been linked to the alleged extra-judicial killing of another Nigerian, Nnaemeka Mathew Andrew Ekpenyong, on April 20.

‎

‎The government noted that although the identities of the four officers involved in Ekpenyong’s case were known to the South African Police Service, no arrests have been made.

‎

‎The second victim, Musa Yunana Joe, popularly known as Big Joe, was reportedly shot dead in front of his shop in Witbank, Mpumalanga, on June 28 by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.

‎

‎It warned that attempts to portray hardworking and disciplined Nigerians as criminals were dangerous and capable of fueling more attacks.

‎

‎The Nigerian government also urged the South African authorities to urgently investigate the two latest killings and other unresolved cases involving Nigerian nationals and ensure that all those responsible were prosecuted.

‎