Gunmen have shot dead a 22-year-old Nigerian student from Plateau State, Isaac Satlat, in South Africa, sparking fresh concerns among Nigerians in the country over what they describe as renewed hostility against foreign nationals.
The incident, which reportedly occurred around Moshongo in Attridgeville, near Pretoria, has drawn outrage within the Nigerian community, coming barely a week after another compatriot was killed in Gauteng.
A Nigerian resident in South Africa, Charles Awuzie, disclosed the development in a Facebook post on Thursday, stating that Satlat, whose father is a Christian missionary based in the country, was initially declared missing after he was allegedly abducted while driving his father’s vehicle.
Awuzie said the young man’s corpse was recovered two days later with multiple gunshot wounds.
According to him, the deceased was on the verge of completing his studies and was billed to graduate next month before proceeding to Canada to further his education.
The killing has heightened tension among Nigerians in South Africa, particularly as it followed the reported shooting of another Nigerian, Emeka Uzor, during an anti-drug operation in Gauteng, a suburb of Johannesburg.
Another Nigerian, who also reacted to the incident on social media, alleged that Satlat was shot several times before his body was dumped.
He further claimed that the victim’s father was hospitalised in Nigeria after his blood pressure reportedly spiked upon receiving news of the tragedy.
Efforts to get official confirmation from South African authorities were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
The latest incident adds to growing concerns over the safety of Nigerians residing in South Africa, amid recurring reports of violent attacks involving foreign nationals.