Nigeria says two citizens were killed in South Africa amid spike in anti-migrant attacks

Nigeria’s government said two of its citizens were killed in South Africa during the week of June 28, citing a rise in anti-migrant sentiment and attacks on foreigners. In a statement issued after the killings were reported, Nigeria’s foreign ministry said Emeka Charles Iroegbu was “reportedly killed” on June 28 in Pretoria by police officers from the Tshwane Metro police department, and that the incident involved what it described as “gruesome interrogation techniques.”

The ministry said a separate killing occurred the same day. It said unidentified assailants attacked and killed Musa Yunana Joe outside his shop in the city of eMalahleni. Nigeria said the two deaths were occurring “at a time when foreigners are being unduly targeted” in South Africa.

Nigeria linked its concerns to a broader pattern of anti-migrant hostility that has prompted other African countries to repatriate citizens from South Africa. The foreign ministry said roughly 25,000 citizens from other African countries have been sent home, including “some 700 Nigerians,” as people fled violence and fear spread in communities across the country.

The statement also described rising pressure from anti-migrant protest movements. Demonstrators have urged the South African government to take stronger steps to curb illegal migration, arguing that foreign nationals are taking jobs and straining public services. In some places, protesters have also blocked foreigners from accessing services, according to reporting on the wider situation.

Nigeria said it is responding through diplomacy and documentation. The ministry said Abuja placed the South African government “on notice,” adding that “all options remain on the table” if intolerance and “apartheid-style behaviour” toward foreigners is not addressed. Nigeria also said it would seek compensation for Nigerians who left South Africa, and that it has begun documenting businesses and properties abandoned by Nigerians.

South Africa’s response to the compensation demand was described in a separate statement reported by BBC. At a media briefing on Friday, South African cabinet minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the government would not pay compensation, according to the BBC report. The BBC did not describe an official South African finding on the June 28 killings by the time of publication.

Meanwhile, South African authorities have said they are investigating incidents connected to xenophobic violence. Separate coverage by Al Jazeera described ongoing police investigations into murders and attacks against foreign nationals, including cases where police said they were unable to confirm nationality until relevant authorities were notified, illustrating the difficulties of verification during fast-moving unrest.

For Nigeria, the practical next steps center on how South Africa proceeds with investigations, identification of suspects, and any accountability measures for the alleged actions of police officers, as well as on how bilateral negotiations proceed regarding restitution claims. For South Africa, the immediate challenge remains maintaining public order and ensuring that law enforcement responses to suspected crimes are consistent with due process.