September 14, (THEWILL) – Diplomacy appears to be failing in resolving the impasse between Nigeria and South Africa following unrelenting xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and some other Africans.
A fortnight ago, Nigeria reported South Africa to the African Union. Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Bola Tinubu in Europe, told the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Luanda, Angola.
He alerted the august gathering that the continuous mistreatment and dehumanisation of Africans in South Africa undermine continental unity, solidarity and peaceful coexistence.
Urging the AU to take collective action and formally place the issue on the agenda for the upcoming 40th Ordinary Session of the Assembly, Shettima noted that while South Africa has a sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws, it must do so while protecting lives and upholding human dignity.
Nigeria, he affirmed, would not cut diplomatic ties with South Africa, but would pursue robust diplomatic conversations and peaceful engagement, while firmly defending its citizens.
A few days after Shettima’s diplomatic gesture, the fate of Nigerians in South Africa worsened. A 58-year-old Nigerian cleric, Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle, was allegedly killed by gunmen in Johannesburg, South Africa.
According to the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA), Fakunle, an indigene of Iye, Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, was allegedly killed on Friday, September 4, 2026, at his residence in Kensington, Johannesburg.
National President of NICASA, Rev. Frank Onyekwelu, said the circumstances surrounding the cleric’s death had left his family, friends and members of the Nigerian community devastated. According to him, two suspects allegedly gained access to Fakunle’s residence and opened fire on him, reportedly shooting him more than seven times.
Onyekwelu described the incident as a “horrific and senseless act of violence” and condemned the killing, expressing concern over the continued loss of Nigerian lives to violent crime in South Africa.
The circumstances surrounding the attack, including the motive for the killing and how the suspects gained access to the residence, were not immediately disclosed.
Onyekwelu said NICASA had formally notified the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg following the incident. He added that a murder case had been opened at Jeppe Police Station, where the South African authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the cleric.
NICASA called on the South African Police Service (SAPS) to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the killing and ensure that those responsible are identified and brought to justice.
The association also urged Nigerian diplomatic representatives in South Africa to closely monitor the investigation and engage the relevant South African authorities to ensure that the case receives the necessary attention.
NICASA stressed the need for justice for Fakunle, his family and associates, while expressing concern over the safety of Nigerians living and carrying out legitimate activities in South Africa.
The death of the bishop comes amid persistent concerns over attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.
However, NICASA’s account did not establish that Fakunle was killed as a result of xenophobia, and the motive for the shooting remains unknown pending the outcome of police investigations.
The association urged the authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding the killing and ensure that anyone found responsible is arrested and prosecuted.
In another development, South African authorities extradited six Nigerians wanted in the US over romance scam in South Africa, will extradite six Nigerian nationals to the United States over allegations they swindled victims out of more than $6 million in a sophisticated online romance scam, police said. The men are alleged to be members of an organised criminal network called Black Axe and are wanted by US authorities on charges including wire fraud and money laundering, South Africa’s elite police unit Hawks said in a statement.
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They were arrested in South Africa in 2021 following a major crackdown after allegedly targeting “more than 100 women in the United States, allegedly defrauding them of more than R100 million ($6.2 million) through online romance or love scams”, the Hawks said.
“Among the alleged victims were pensioners and businesspeople who were reportedly targeted through sophisticated online relationships used to defraud them of their money,” Hawks spokeswoman Colonel Katlego Mogale said.
Mogale said the suspects would be handed over to officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the US State Secret Service at Cape Town International Airport on Friday, September 11, 2026.
On the same Friday, the Nigerian National Assembly has hit back at South Africa by suspending all official visits to the country and ordering a boycott of legislative activities hosted or organised by South African authorities.
THEWILL reports that the decision, which takes immediate effect and will remain in force until further notice, covers senators, members of the House of Representatives, National Assembly committees, officials and staff.
It followed growing concerns by the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives over reports that Nigerians living and doing legitimate business in South Africa have been killed, injured, displaced and forced to abandon their businesses, investments, homes and other properties as a result of xenophobic violence.
According to the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, the leadership said the attacks had continued despite repeated appeals by the Nigerian Government and other stakeholders for the South African authorities to take decisive measures to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals.
The lawmakers also acknowledged interventions by the Federal Government and other stakeholders to assist Nigerians affected by the attacks and facilitate the evacuation of Nigerian nationals from South Africa.
Under the resolution, all official visits to South Africa by the National Assembly, its committees, and staff have been suspended.
The boycott extends to conferences, seminars, workshops, parliamentary meetings, legislative exchanges and other activities organised or hosted by South African legislative authorities.
The National Assembly further directed that its members and officials must not participate physically or virtually in legislative programmes hosted by South Africa. The Clerk was directed to communicate the decision to senators, members of the House of Representatives, committees, departments, directorates, officials and staff for strict compliance.
The leadership said the decision was taken out of concern for the safety and welfare of Nigerians in South Africa and should not be interpreted as an attempt to sever or undermine the longstanding historical, diplomatic and people-to-people relations between Nigeria and South Africa.
Rather, it described the action as a firm expression of concern over the safety, dignity and welfare of Nigerians living and conducting legitimate businesses in South Africa. The lawmakers called on the South African Government to take urgent and concrete measures to protect Nigerians and other African nationals against further xenophobic attacks.
They demanded that reported incidents be thoroughly investigated, with suspected perpetrators arrested and those found culpable prosecuted in accordance with South African law. The lawmakers also urged the leadership of State Houses of Assembly across Nigeria to take note of the resolution and consider adopting similar measures in response to the situation.
The National Assembly leadership said it would continue to monitor developments concerning the safety and welfare of Nigerians in South Africa. It added that the suspension and boycott would remain in force until further notice, but it could be reviewed, depending on developments and the steps taken by the South African authorities.
Nigeria and South Africa maintain one of the most important bilateral relationships on the African continent, with extensive diplomatic, economic, trade, investment, security and people-to-people ties. However, relations between the two countries have repeatedly come under strain over attacks on Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa.
Xenophobic violence has, over the years, resulted in attacks on foreign-owned businesses, destruction of property, displacement and, in some cases, deaths. Nigerians have frequently been among those affected, prompting diplomatic protests, calls for stronger protection and interventions by both governments.
The recurring incidents have also generated public anger in Nigeria, particularly where Nigerians perceive South African authorities as failing to adequately protect foreign nationals or bring perpetrators of attacks to justice. In the recent attacks in 2026, the Nigerian government evacuated over 700 Nigerians from South Africa after weeks of attacks involving the burning of their shops and businesses.
The latest action by the National Assembly marks a significant escalation in Nigeria’s institutional response to the issue, as the federal legislature has now moved from appeals and diplomatic concerns to suspending parliamentary engagement with South African legislative institutions.
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