Two more Nigerians killed in South Africa, toll rises to seven

Two more Nigerians have been killed in South Africa, bringing the reported death toll in a recent wave of xenophobic violence to at least seven, according to the Nigerian Consulate General in Johannesburg. The victims were identified as Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle and James Uchechukwu Nwankwo, who died in separate incidents in early September 2026. Fakunle was killed by unidentified assailants at his residence in Kensington, Johannesburg, on September 4, 2026. The Nigerian Consulate described the incident as a "gruesome murder" and noted concerns that the killing might have been targeted, with assailants allegedly tracing him to his home. A murder case was opened at Jeppe Police Station, and the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa reported that Fakunle was shot more than seven times. Nwankwo was killed on September 5, 2026, in Somerset West, Cape Town, by officials of the South African Police Service (SAPS), according to the Nigerian Consulate and former Nigerian Minister Femi Fani-Kayode.