FFK Laments Killing of Nigerian in SA

​ABUJA — Nigeria’s High Commissioner-Designate to South Africa, Ambassador Femi Fani-Kayode, has condemned the growing wave of violence and extra-judicial actions targeting Nigerian nationals in the former apartheid republic.

​Fani-Kayode’s reaction follows the emergence of a harrowing, secretly recorded video depicting a Nigerian national being tortured and suffocated to death inside his private residence allegedly by operatives of the South African Police Service (SAPS).

​In a strongly worded statement released on his official social media handles, the diplomat expressed profound shock, noting that the chilling audio of the victim pleading for his life while a plastic bag was forced over his head left him deeply traumatized.

​“The vilification, persecution, targeting, extra-judicial killing, racial stereotyping and murder of Nigerians in South Africa is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” Fani-Kayode declared, signaling a radical shift in Abuja’s diplomatic stance against citizen neglect. “Neither will we continue to be complicit in these crimes against our nationals by remaining silent in the face of them. That is the new order.”

​Fani-Kayode revealed that the disturbing incident formed a core part of discussions during his recent bilateral meetings with South African foreign policy officials. He emphasized that Nigerian lives remain inherently valuable and criticized past approaches that allegedly trivialized the safety of compatriots abroad.

​Citing grim statistics, the High Commissioner-Designate disclosed that since 2022, no fewer than 90 Nigerians have lost their lives to Afrophobic attacks, mob violence, and police brutality in South Africa. He lamented a recurring pattern of impunity, pointing out that virtually none of the perpetrators have faced prosecution, while initial arrests in recent cases have yielded no tangible justice.

ADVERTISEMENT

​Providing details on recent escalations, Fani-Kayode noted that six Nigerians have already been killed in South Africa this year alone, with half of those casualties allegedly directly linked to law enforcement agents. He referenced a fresh incident in Cape Town where a Nigerian was allegedly tortured to death in his home, while another compatriot sustained facial injuries from a rubber bullet fired by police officers while protesting the tragedy.

​While acknowledging recent diplomatic engagements aimed at de-escalating tensions and fostering stronger bilateral cooperation, Fani-Kayode maintained that true progress would be measured by concrete legal accountability rather than political rhetoric.