Outrage as 58-Year-Old Nigerian Bishop Shot Dead in Johannesburg

​JOHANNESBURG — The Nigerian community in South Africa is plunged into profound mourning following the brutal assassination of Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle, a 58-year-old Nigerian cleric, who was gunned down at his residence in Kensington, Johannesburg.

​Fakunle, an indigene of Iye in the Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, met his tragic end on Friday, September 4, 2026. According to details released by the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA), two armed assailants forced their way into the clergyman’s home before opening fire, riddling his body with more than seven bullets. He died on the spot.

​Condemning the targeted execution, NICASA National President, Rev. Frank Onyekwelu, decried the incident not just as a statistical loss, but as a chilling reminder of the persistent security threats facing expatriates.

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​”This was not merely an ordinary loss of life; it was a horrific and senseless act of violence that has robbed a family of a loved one and the Nigerian community of another precious life,” Onyekwelu stated.

​In the wake of the tragedy, leadership of the association has formally notified the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg. A formal murder case has been lodged at the Jeppe Police Station, setting the stage for a formal inquiry by local law enforcement.

​NICASA has issued a stern call to the South African Police Service (SAPS), pressing for an uncompromised, transparent, and expedited investigation to unmask the masterminds behind the bloodletting. The association insists that the perpetrators must be hunted down and prosecuted to the full extent of South African law.

​Furthermore, the diaspora body has urged Nigerian diplomatic missions in the country to maintain active oversight of the police investigation to ensure the file does not stall or go cold. While appealing to the Nigerian populace in South Africa to maintain calm and law and order, community leaders have reiterated that the rising tide of violent crimes targeting foreign nationals requires urgent bilateral attention.

​”The family deserves answers. The Nigerian community deserves justice. Bishop Taiwo deserves justice,” Onyekwelu emphasized, echoing a growing sentiment that enough blood has been shed.