“South Africans Are Not Targeted And Killed In Nigeria, Least SA Govt Can Do Is Protect Our Nationals” — Fani-Kayode

The Nigerian High Commissioner-Designate to South Africa, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has said South Africans are not

targeted and killed in Nigeria by Nigerians or security forces, and the least the South African Government can do is reciprocate by protecting Nigerian nationals.

Fani-Kayode stated this in reaction to the murder of two Nigerians — Bishop Michael Taiwo Fakunle and James Uchechukwu Nwankwo — in Johannesburg, South Africa.

In a post on Facebook, Fani-Kayode said he was mortified and deeply shocked to hear about the murder of Bishop Fakunle by unknown persons on September 4, after issuing a series of threats.

He said the assailants went to Fakunle’s home and shot him dead.

He also expressed shock over the death of Nwankwo on September 5, allegedly at the hands of officers of the South African Police Service.

“He died as a consequence of what has been described as ‘gruesome interrogation techniques’ by the South African police,” he said.

According to him, Bishop Fakunle and Mr Nwankwo are the seventh and eighth Nigerians to have been murdered in South Africa this year alone, with no fewer than four among the eight murdered by South African police officers.

Fani-Kayode disclosed that over 100 Nigerian nationals have been murdered in South Africa between 2022 and today, and over 30 of them were killed by officers of the South African Police Service and South African Defence Force.

He lamented that despite constant expressions of concern, not one person has been arrested, detained, prosecuted or brought to justice for the crimes.

“What is most disturbing is the fact that, in spite of our constant expressions of concern about this disturbing state of affairs, not one person has been arrested, detained, prosecuted or brought to justice for any of these heinous crimes. This is unacceptable,” he said.

“We call on the South African Government to do far more to protect our nationals and to bring those that have killed or are planning to kill them to justice,” he added.

Fani-Kayode said no one deserved to be targeted and murdered simply because they are Nigerians, noting that the Nigerian community and the Nigerian Mission in South Africa were deeply disturbed and now live in trepidation.

He also raised alarm over yet another deadline issued to African nationals, including Nigerians, to leave South Africa by September 30 by what he described as brazenly racist, xenophobic and Afrophobic South African non-governmental organisations.

“We call on the South African Government to protect our people from the excesses of these racist organisations and their misguided members and to apply the full weight of the law against them,” he said.

While noting that Nigeria seeks stronger ties with South Africa, Fani-Kayode warned that continued killings would have consequences.

“If this vicious cycle of discrimination against and killing of our nationals does not stop, there will be consequences. Simply put, our patience is wearing thin.

“South Africans are not targeted and killed in Nigeria by our people or our security forces. The least the South African Government can do is reciprocate this gesture, protect our nationals and address our legitimate concerns,” he said.

He prayed for the repose of the souls of Bishop Fakunle and Mr Nwankwo.