Nigeria Says Two Citizens Killed in South Africa Amid Anti-Migrant Tensions
· 2 min read
Nigeria has announced that two of its citizens were killed in South Africa at a time when the country's foreign ministry says foreigners are being "unduly targeted" there. The statement marks a fresh escalation in tensions between the two African nations.
According to the ministry, Emeka Charles Iroegbu was "reportedly killed" on 28 June by police officers in Pretoria "using gruesome interrogation techniques." On the same day, shop owner Musa Yunana Joe was attacked and killed by unidentified assailants outside his business in the city of eMalahleni.
The ministry said Iroegbu died at the hands of officers from the Tshwane Metro police department. Authorities in Pretoria, South Africa's capital, have not yet commented on the allegations.
Rising Anti-Migrant Sentiment
Nigeria linked the deaths to a broader climate of hostility toward migrants in South Africa. According to Abuja, the tensions have led to roughly 25,000 citizens from other African countries being repatriated by their governments, including some 700 Nigerians.
Protesters in South Africa have called on their government to do more to curb illegal migration, arguing that foreigners are taking jobs and unfairly benefiting from public services. Some anti-migrant groups had set a 30 June deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave the country.
Ghana, Malawi and Nigeria are among the African nations that repatriated some of their citizens ahead of that deadline.
Abuja Warns Pretoria
In its statement, Nigeria's foreign ministry said it was placing the South African government "on notice." It warned that "all options remain on the table... if the uncultured and provocative trend of intolerance and apartheid-style behaviour of South Africa against foreigners is not addressed."
Nigeria also said it would seek compensation from South Africa for citizens who have left the country, adding that it had begun documenting businesses and properties abandoned by Nigerians.
South Africa, however, has rejected the demand. At a media briefing on Friday, cabinet minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said her government would not pay compensation, and that Nigerians could sell any registered properties they left behind on the South African market.
Dispute Over Official Comments
Ntshavheni also made remarks about drugs, saying: "We would be interested to know where the drug dens of Nigerians are, so they can show us where they have been holding the drugs so we can clean the drugs in South Africa quite urgently."
Nigeria's foreign ministry strongly condemned the comment in its Sunday statement, describing it as "unacceptable." The ministry said such "derogatory, unprofessional and uncensored generalised public statements by highly placed government officials constitute hate speech."
The dispute unfolds against a backdrop of severe economic pressure in South Africa. The continent's most developed economy has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, at more than 30%, and anti-migrant sentiment has been rising in recent months. Despite the tensions, South Africa remains a destination for people from poorer countries seeking work, often in low-paid jobs.
As diplomatic language sharpens between the two nations, the coming weeks will reveal how far each government is willing to go. What do you think this dispute means for relations across the continent? Share this article and join the conversation.
