Nigeria condemns killings of its citizens in South Africa

The Nigerian government has strongly condemned the killings of two of its citizens in South Africa and called for urgent investigations and prosecutions. The condemnation was issued in a statement on Sunday, July 5, 2026, by the spokesperson for Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.

According to the statement, Emeka Charles Iroegbu was allegedly killed by officers of the Tshwane Metro Police in Sunnyside, Pretoria, on June 28. The ministry described his death as the result of gruesome interrogation techniques. The same statement alleged that the same officers were responsible for the extrajudicial killing of another Nigerian, Nnaemeka Mathew Andrew Ekpenyong, on April 20, adding that no arrests have been made despite the identities of the officers being known to South African authorities.

A second Nigerian national, Musa Yunana Joe, popularly known as Big Joe, was also killed on June 28 in Witbank, Mpumalanga, shot dead in front of his shop by unidentified gunmen.

The Nigerian government expressed grave concern over the safety of its nationals and other foreigners in South Africa, linking the killings to a broader context of xenophobic violence and...