Two Nigerians have been killed in South Africa “at a time when foreigners are being unduly targeted” there.
Roughly 25,000 citizens from other African countries are being repatriated by their nations, including some 700 Nigerians amid a rise in anti-migrant sentiment in South Africa.
Emeka Charles Iroegbu, according to a statement from the foreign ministry, was “reportedly killed” on June 28 by police officers “using gruesome interrogation techniques,” while unidentified assailants killed shop owner Musa Yunana Joe on the same day.
The authorities in South Africa’s capital, Pretoria, say they are investigating the incidents.
Protesters in South Africa have urged the government to do more to curb illegal migration. They say foreigners are taking jobs and unfairly benefiting from public services.
Joe, killed on June 28, was attacked outside his shop in the city of eMalahleni, the ministry said.
Abuja said it was placing the South African government “on notice” and that “all options remain on the table… if the uncultured and provocative trend of intolerance and apartheid-style behaviour of South Africa against foreigners is not addressed.”
Nigeria has said it will seek compensation from South Africa for its citizens who have left the country, adding that Abuja had begun documenting businesses and properties left behind by Nigerians.
However, South African cabinet minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, at a media briefing last Friday, said her government would not pay compensation and that Nigerians can sell registered properties they left behind on the South African market.
She also said: “We would be interested to know where the drug dens of Nigerians are, so they can show us where they have been holding the drugs so that we can clean the drugs in South Africa quite urgently.”
Nigeria’s foreign ministry strongly condemned this comment in its statement on Sunday, calling it “unacceptable.”
“Such derogatory, unprofessional, and uncensored generalised public statements by highly placed government officials constitute hate speech,” the ministry said.
