Two Nigerians, identified simply as Austin and Ayo, have been shot dead by unknown gunmen in Durban, South Africa.
The tragic incident reportedly occurred around 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, when three masked assailants stormed Austin’s office. Upon entering, the gunmen opened fire, killing both men on the spot.
According to Fidelis, a close friend of the deceased who spoke to PUNCH Metro by phone, Austin operated a car dealership and tyre shop in Durban.
He said Ayo had only come to visit Austin that evening when the attack took place.
“They were standing and chatting when three masked men suddenly burst into the shop with guns,” Fidelis recounted. “Without saying anything, they shot both of them. Some customers who were in the shop fled as soon as they saw the gunmen.”
Eyewitnesses in the area reported hearing gunshots and seeing the attackers flee shortly afterward.
The victims were rushed to a nearby hospital, but doctors confirmed them dead on arrival.
A source based in Nigeria, who was familiar with the case, sent CCTV footage of the incident to PUNCH Metro.
The footage showed the two men conversing before the gunmen appeared from behind, shooting Austin at close range. Ayo was killed while attempting to escape.
The source said news of the incident only reached them about a week later.
While there have been speculations that the shooting may have stemmed from a business dispute, the motive remains unclear.
“As of now, the authorities have not apprehended the suspects,” the source said. “We were only told that an investigation is ongoing.”
Efforts to get a comment from the spokesperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abdulrahman Balogun, were unsuccessful.
Calls placed to his phone went unanswered, and a message sent to him remained unreplied as of press time.
This incident comes amid growing concern over the safety of Nigerians in South Africa. In April, PUNCH Metro reported the deaths of two Nigerians, Taiwo Raji and Yemi Akinwunmi, who were shot dead by a South African national in front of their shops on Church Street, Arcadia, Pretoria.
The Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA) had called for justice in that case. However, according to NICASA President Frank Onyekwelu, the suspected killer was later granted bail by a South African court.
NICASA also reported the kidnapping of another Nigerian businessman, Silas Ani, from his home in Springs, Johannesburg, on April 24.
He was allegedly abducted along with others by a man identified as Xolani Khumalo.
In another incident, Julius Chukwunta, a Nigerian resident of Midrand, Johannesburg, was reportedly attacked and killed in his home on December 7, 2024.