Nigeria demands investigation after 3 citizens die in South Africa

The Federal Government of Nigeria has called on South African authorities to thoroughly investigate the deaths of three Nigerians killed in separate incidents across the country within four days.

In an official statement released from Johannesburg, Nigeria’s Consul-General, Ambassador Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, expressed concern over the series of deaths that took place between September 18 and September 21.

According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the victims Kenechukwu Igwemmadu, Olaniyi Olatunde, and Christian Nnaemeka died under troubling circumstances in different regions.

The first incident occurred on September 18 in Bloemfontein where Igwemmadu died after jumping from a building while trying to escape alleged police harassment.

Two days later in Pretoria, Olatunde, a security guard at a local nightclub, was shot during an argument over a drinking cup. He was rushed to Mamelodi Hospital, where he died on September 21. Dawn Herald gathered that the gunman reportedly returned to the venue to threaten witnesses before escaping.

On the same day, Nnaemeka died in Ekurhuleni after an alleged encounter with South African investigative content creator Xolani Khumalo and his crew, which witnesses reported that Nnaemeka was assaulted and tortured during the incident, before collapsing.

This is the second death tied to the same media team in 2026, following the shooting of another Nigerian, Emeka Uzor, in February, which the South African police are yet to make any arrests in that earlier case.

Ambassador Okey-Uche stressed that South African law enforcement must step in immediately to hold those responsible accountable.

“All lives matter. Allegations must be handled through due process, with suspects presumed innocent and given opportunity to defend themselves in court”, Okey-Uche.

She urged Nigerians residing in South Africa to stay calm, remain law-abiding, and stay alert to their surroundings while diplomatic officials work on their behalf