Three Nigerians have died in separate incidents across South Africa within four days, prompting the Nigerian Consulate-General in Johannesburg to call for thorough investigations into the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
The Consul-General, Ambassador Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, disclosed the incidents in a statement issued on Monday, describing the developments as a fresh concern for the safety of Nigerians and other foreign nationals in the country.
The victims were identified as Kenechukwu Christopher Igwemmadú, Olaniyi Olaleye Olatunde and Christian Hillary Nnaemeka.
According to the consulate, Igwemmadú died on September 18 after allegedly jumping to his death while attempting to escape what was described as police harassment and brutality at Kenlin Court on Douglas Street in Bloemfontein’s Central Business District.
Two days later, Olatunde, who worked as a security guard, was reportedly shot at Spanata Bar and Grills Night Club in Mamelodi East, Pretoria.
The consulate said the incident followed an altercation after Olatunde attempted to stop a South African customer from leaving the premises with a cup belonging to the club. The customer allegedly pulled out a firearm and shot him in the lower body.
Olatunde was taken to Mamelodi Hospital but died from his injuries on the morning of September 21, according to the consulate.
The third victim, Nnaemeka, allegedly died on September 21 following an encounter involving South African politician and investigative content creator Xolani Khumalo and members of his content-creation team in Primrose, Ekurhuleni.
The consulate alleged that Nnaemeka was assaulted and tortured during an operation by Khumalo’s Sizok’thola team. It said he later attempted to escape by jumping over a fence, collapsed from his injuries and exhaustion, and was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital.
The consulate also recalled the February 2026 death of another Nigerian, Emeka Clement Uzor, who it said was shot during an incident involving Khumalo’s reality television crew in Windsor East, Randburg.
Reacting to the latest deaths, the consulate urged South African authorities to conduct full investigations and ensure that anyone found responsible faces due process.
It stressed that allegations of wrongdoing should not be used to justify extrajudicial action, noting that suspects should be presumed innocent and given a fair hearing in court.
The consulate also appealed to Nigerians in South Africa to remain calm, law-abiding and security-conscious.
Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, said the latest incidents brought the reported number of Nigerians killed in South Africa in 2026 to 12. He also claimed that 112 Nigerians had been killed in the country since 2022, including 32 allegedly killed by members of South African security forces. These figures were presented as his claims in the Punch report and were not independently verified in the article.
The Nigerian diplomatic mission expressed condolences to the families of the three victims and said it remained committed to protecting the welfare and fair treatment of Nigerians in South Africa.
