The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission(NiDCOM) has called on authorities in South Africa to act swiftly against those behind a fresh wave of xenophobic violence, as fear spreads among African migrant communities and diplomatic concerns deepen.
- +Nigeria demands action as xenophobic attacks resurface in South Africa
The latest attacks, which resurfaced earlier this month, have targeted African immigrants, particularly nationals from Ghana, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria.
The latest attacks, which resurfaced earlier this month, have targeted African immigrants, particularly nationals from Ghana, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria. According to the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg, two Nigerians, Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew, were killed as tensions escalated.
In a statement on Wednesday, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chair of the commission, warned that the situation is worsening despite ongoing bilateral engagement between both countries. According to The Cable, she described a climate of fear now shaping daily life for many Nigerians in South Africa.
Pupils of Nigerian descent, she said, are afraid to attend school. Business owners are keeping their shops closed to avoid attacks, looting, and harassment. Community leaders have also reported new incidents of violence and intimidation within the past 72 hours.
“We state clearly that NiDCOM rejects the profiling and generalisation of all Nigerians. Crime has no nationality,” the statement reads.
“Any individual, regardless of origin, who commits an offence should be investigated and made to face the full penalty of South African law. “However, collective punishment and blanket labelling of an entire nationality are unacceptable and dangerous.”
The commission urged South African authorities to increase police patrols in areas where Nigerians live and work, and to ensure the prompt arrest and prosecution of those involved in violence, arson, and extortion.
It also called for the creation of a joint Nigeria-South Africa community safety forum involving law enforcement, local officials, and diaspora representatives. Clear public messaging condemning xenophobia and warning against stereotyping, it added, is urgently needed to calm tensions. Dabiri-Erewa said the commission remains in close contact with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, the consulate in Johannesburg, and Nigeria’s foreign affairs ministry as efforts continue to monitor the situation. She also advised Nigerians in South Africa to remain law-abiding and avoid high-risk areas, especially after dark, as authorities work to contain the unrest.
