The Nigerian Consulate-General in Johannesburg has raised concern over the deaths of three Nigerians in separate incidents across South Africa between September 18 and 21, 2026.
The Consul-General, Amb. Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, identifying the deceased as Kenechukwu Christopher Igwemmadú, Olaniyi Olaleye Olatunde and Christian Hillary Nnaemeka.
According to the Consulate, Igwemmadú died on September 18 after allegedly jumping from a building while attempting to escape what it described as police harassment and brutality in Bloemfontein.
Olatunde, a security guard, was allegedly shot two days later at a nightclub in Mamelodi East, Pretoria, following an altercation with a South African customer. He was rushed to hospital but died from his injuries on September 21.
The third victim, Nnaemeka, allegedly died after an encounter with a team led by South African politician and investigative content creator, Xolani Khumalo, during an operation in Primrose, Ekurhuleni. The Consulate alleged that Nnaemeka was assaulted and tortured before collapsing while attempting to escape.
The Consulate also recalled the February 2026 killing of another Nigerian, Emeka Clement Uzor, allegedly involving Khumalo’s reality television crew in Randburg, saying no arrest had been made over the incident.
It called on South African authorities to conduct thorough investigations into the latest deaths and prosecute anyone found culpable, stressing that allegations of wrongdoing should be handled through due process rather than extrajudicial actions.
- Meanwhile, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, said the latest incidents had brought the number of Nigerians killed in the country in 2026 to 12. He condemned the deaths and urged the South African authorities to protect Nigerians and ensure that those responsible were brought to justice.