Nigeria urges probe into deaths of three citizens in South Africa

Nigeria’s Consul-General in Johannesburg has called on South African authorities to investigate the deaths of three Nigerians in separate incidents between September 18 and 21, 2026, and to bring anyone found responsible to justice. The Consulate’s account includes allegations of police brutality, a shooting and assault, but the circumstances have not been established in court. The Consulate identified the victims as Kenechukwu Christopher Igwemmadú, Olaniyi Olaleye Olatunde and Christian Hillary Nnaemeka. Consul-General Ninikanwa Okey-Uche said the deaths raised concerns about the safety of Nigerians and other foreign nationals in South Africa. According to the Consulate, Igwemmadú died on September 18 after allegedly jumping from a building in Bloemfontein while trying to escape police harassment and brutality. No findings from an investigation into his death were included in the reports. The Consulate said Olatunde, a security guard, was shot at a club in Mamelodi East, Pretoria, on September 20, after an altercation with a South African customer over a cup belonging to the venue. He was taken to hospital and died the following morning.