The Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg has confirmed the tragic killing of two Nigerian citizens in South Africa amid rising xenophobic tensions and growing anti-immigrant protests across parts of the country. The victims, identified as Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew, reportedly died in separate incidents involving South African security personnel, raising fresh concerns within the Nigerian community and prompting calls for justice.
According to Consul-General Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, Amaramiro Emmanuel died on April 20 after allegedly sustaining severe injuries from a brutal assault by members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). The incident has drawn serious condemnation, especially as witnesses claim excessive force was used during the encounter.
In a separate case, Ekpenyong Andrew was reportedly apprehended on April 19 in the Booysens area of Pretoria following an alleged altercation with members of the Tshwane Metro Police. Authorities later confirmed that his body was discovered at the Pretoria Central Mortuary, deepening suspicions surrounding the circumstances of his death. The Nigerian Consulate described both incidents as shocking and deeply disturbing, particularly because they involved state security personnel. Okey-Uche stated that the deaths have left the victims’ families, the Nigerian community, and diplomatic missions in distress.
“A formal case has been opened with the South African Police Service, and the matter is being investigated,” she said, while also urging the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to ensure a thorough, transparent, and impartial probe into both incidents. The Consul-General further called on South African authorities to ensure justice is served, stressing that no matter the allegations against any individual, lawful procedures must be followed.
“We call on South African authorities to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to justice. Everyone should be presumed innocent and granted fair hearing in a court of law. No one should take the law into their hands,” she stated.
These deaths come amid renewed xenophobic violence and anti-foreigner protests across South Africa, where many foreign nationals. particularly Nigerians, Ghanaians, Ethiopians, and other African migrants, have increasingly become targets of hostility. Demonstrations in Johannesburg and Pretoria have included calls for stricter immigration enforcement, shop closures, and the deportation of undocumented migrants. South African authorities have also recently promised a stronger crackdown on xenophobic attacks after diplomatic protests from Ghana and growing international concern.
The Nigerian Consulate also warned against the dangerous profiling and generalization of Nigerians as criminals, describing such narratives as harmful and capable of fueling violence. Nigerians living in South Africa have been advised to remain calm, vigilant, and law-abiding while investigations continue. Although Nigeria’s Acting Ambassador to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, has stated that Nigerians are not currently under siege and that both governments are working together to maintain safety, fear remains high among many migrants who feel increasingly vulnerable in the face of repeated xenophobic incidents.
The deaths of Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew have once again placed the issue of xenophobia in South Africa under international scrutiny, raising urgent questions about migrant protection, law enforcement accountability, and the safety of Africans living across the continent. For many Nigerians abroad, the demand remains simple: justice, dignity, and the right to live without fear.
