The Federal Government has expressed concern over the killing of two more Nigerians in South Africa, describing the incidents as disturbing and demanding immediate action from the South African authorities.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, identified the victims as Emeka Charles Iroegbu and Musa Yunana Joe, saying both were killed in separate incidents on the same day.
According to the ministry, Iroegbu allegedly died on June 28 in Sunnyside, Pretoria, after he was reportedly subjected to brutal interrogation by officers of the Tshwane Metro Police.
The statement also alleged that the same officers had previously been linked to the extra-judicial killing of another Nigerian, Nnaemeka Mathew Andrew Ekpenyong, whose case remains unresolved.
The ministry noted that although the identities of the four officers involved were known to the South African Police Service, no arrests had been made.
It added that the second victim, Joe, popularly known as “Big Joe”, was shot dead in front of his business premises in Witbank, Mpumalanga, by yet-to-be-identified assailants.
The latest deaths come amid growing concerns over attacks on African migrants in South Africa.
Earlier this year, the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg confirmed the killing of two Nigerians during a wave of xenophobic violence, although some repatriated citizens claimed the number of victims was higher.
Reacting to the fresh incidents, the Federal Government accused some South African security personnel of failing to protect foreign nationals and alleged complicity, particularly on the part of officers attached to the Tshwane Metro Police.
Ebienfa said the repeated attacks had fuelled concerns over attempts to stereotype Nigerians as criminals, describing the trend as unacceptable.
He called on the South African government to immediately investigate the latest killings and other unresolved cases involving Nigerian nationals, stressing that those responsible must be brought to justice.
The spokesperson warned that Nigeria could consider further diplomatic measures if the attacks and what he described as intolerance and apartheid-style treatment of foreigners continued.
He added that the Federal Government sympathised with the bereaved families and assured that it would continue engaging the South African authorities until justice was secured for the victims.