105 Nigerians Killed in South Africa,Diaspora Groups Reveal

​JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — A coalition of Nigerian diaspora leadership has strongly rejected official claims downplaying violence against migrants, revealing that at least 105 Nigerian nationals have lost their lives in South Africa over the past seven years due to xenophobic hostility, vigilante justice, and law enforcement brutality.

​The disclosure was made in a joint statement issued by Smart Nwobi, representing the Nigerian Union South Africa (NUSA), and Frank Onyekwelu of the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA).

​The groups came forward to challenge a recent South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) broadcast. The report, attributed to South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), stated that foreign migrants were not being systematically targeted or killed in the country.

​”Denying or minimising the concerns raised by migrant communities risks discouraging victims and witnesses from reporting abuses and undermines efforts toward justice, reconciliation, and social cohesion,” the statement warned.

​A Timeline of Escalating Fatality

​According to records meticulously compiled by diaspora leaders through community tracking, civil society networks, and media monitoring, the timeline of fatalities points to a severe and unresolved human rights crisis.

ADVERTISEMENT

• ​2019: Mob violence and arson swept through Johannesburg, destroying numerous Nigerian-owned businesses, shops, and vehicles. Twelve Nigerians lost their lives to direct physical assaults.
• ​2022: More than 17 Nigerians were killed through targeted violent attacks, extrajudicial vigilante executions, and alleged high-handedness by local security operatives.
• ​2023: Fatalities peaked sharply, with over 40 reported deaths resulting from a mix of community mob justice, violent criminal encounters, and documented police misconduct.
• ​2024–2025: Tragic patterns persisted, claiming eight lives in 2024 and another eight in 2025 through fatal shootings and suspicious deaths while in police custody.
• ​2026 (January to May): The crisis has seen a sharp resurgence, with more than 20 Nigerians killed in physical encounters involving security personnel, suspected extrajudicial actions, or targeted criminal hits.

​A Cry for Judicial Accountability

​While acknowledging that some of these incidents are undergoing official investigation, NUSA and NICASA expressed profound concern over a systemic lack of prosecution. The groups noted that the absence of transparent legal outcomes has fostered a culture of impunity, deepening fear, anxiety, and mistrust among foreign nationals.

​The leadership clarified that their public stance is not an attempt to undermine South Africa’s democratic institutions or its constitution, which is built on human rights and the rule of law. They also recognized that many South Africans actively reject xenophobia and support peaceful coexistence.

​Demands for Immediate Action

​To halt the ongoing cycle of violence, the Nigerian community is calling on South African authorities to implement immediate structural interventions:

• ​Impartial Investigations: Conduct thorough and transparent probes into all outstanding cases of migrant deaths, particularly those involving security personnel and custody fatalities.
• ​Combating Vigilantism: Strengthen law enforcement responses against mob justice, illegal vigilante groups, and targeted hate crimes.
• ​Dialogue and Integration: Launch public education and community integration programs to dismantle harmful stereotypes against foreign nationals.
• ​Adherence to Due Process: Ensure that foreign suspects are afforded the constitutional presumption of innocence rather than being subjected to immediate street justice.

​”No society can thrive where fear, mob justice, or unlawful violence become normalised,” the statement concluded, reiterating the community’s commitment to working constructively with South African authorities to build a safer, more unified society.