NIGERIAN CONSULATE CONDEMNS THREE MORE KILLINGS OF NATIONALS IN SOUTH AFRICA
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By: Fasasi Hammad
The Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg has strongly condemned the deaths of three more Nigerian nationals who were killed in separate incidents across South Africa between September 18 and 21, 2026.
In a formal statement dated September 28 and signed by the Consul-General, Ambassador (Mrs.) Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, mni, the mission detailed the circumstances surrounding the three deaths.
According to the Consulate, Kenechukwu Christopher Igwemmadu allegedly jumped to his death on September 18 while attempting to escape what the mission described as police harassment and brutality at Kenlin Court on Douglas Street in the Central Business District of Bloemfontein.
On September 20, Olaniyi Olaleye Olatunde, a security guard at Spanata Bar and Grills Night Club in Mamelodi East, Pretoria, was allegedly shot by an unidentified South African man.
The Consulate said Olatunde intervened when the man attempted to leave the club with a cup belonging to the establishment. He was reportedly shot in the lower body and suffered serious injuries and heavy bleeding before being rushed to Mamelodi Hospital, where he was confirmed dead on the morning of September 21.
The alleged shooter reportedly fled the scene but later returned and threatened witnesses who could identify him to the police.
The third incident involved Christian Hillary Nnaemeka, who died on September 21 following an alleged encounter with South African politician and investigative content creator Xolani Khumalo and members of his Sizok’thola content-creation team in Primrose, Ekurhuleni.
According to the Consulate, the team approached Nnaemeka, arrested him and allegedly beat and tortured him despite reportedly finding nothing incriminating. The mission said Nnaemeka attempted to escape by jumping over a fence but collapsed from his injuries and exhaustion and was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
The Consulate noted that the incident was not the first death involving a Nigerian national and Khumalo’s team. It said another Nigerian, Emeka Clement Uzor, was shot dead by the same reality television crew on February 9, 2026, in Windsor East, Randburg.
The mission said no arrests had been made in that case, adding that Khumalo is currently campaigning to become Mayor of Ekurhuleni.
The Consulate described the rapid succession of the three latest deaths as deeply troubling, saying they raised concerns about the safety of Nigerians and other foreign nationals in South Africa.
It called on South African authorities to conduct thorough investigations into the incidents and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
The mission stressed that “Nigerian and all lives matter,” while also emphasising the principle that all persons must be presumed innocent and that no individual or group should take the law into their own hands.
The Consulate further stated that the latest incidents bring the number of Nigerians reportedly murdered in South Africa in 2026 to 12, while 112 Nigerians have allegedly been killed in the country since 2022. It added that 32 of those victims were reportedly killed by members of the South African security forces.
The mission said none of those responsible for the reported killings had been brought to justice or convicted.
It extended its condolences to the families of the three deceased Nigerians and reaffirmed its commitment to promoting the welfare and fair treatment of Nigerians living in South Africa.
The Consulate also appealed to Nigerians in the country to remain calm, law-abiding and security-conscious amid reports of xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks and wider security concerns.
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