The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has called on the government of South Africa to ensure that perpetrators of recent xenophobic attacks are brought to justice.
The renewed violence, which escalated this month, has largely targeted African migrants, including Nigerians, Ghanaians, and Zimbabweans.
In one widely shared clip, a group of locals confronted a Ghanaian national, questioning his presence and accusing migrants of abandoning their home countries instead of improving them.
The situation intensified after the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg confirmed the killing of two Nigerians — Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, NiDCOM chair, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, expressed deep concern over the worsening security situation, despite ongoing diplomatic engagements between both countries.
She noted that the climate of fear is affecting daily life, with children of Nigerian descent reportedly avoiding school, while business owners are reluctant to open shops due to fears of looting, harassment, and targeted attacks. Community leaders, she added, have reported fresh incidents of violence and intimidation within the last 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 labeling of an entire nationality are unacceptable and dangerous.”
NiDCOM called for increased police deployment in affected areas, immediate arrest and prosecution of those involved in attacks, arson, and extortion, as well as the establishment of a joint Nigeria–South Africa community safety forum involving law enforcement, government officials, and diaspora representatives.
The commission also urged South African authorities to issue clear public statements condemning xenophobia and warning against stereotyping.
Dabiri-Erewa said NiDCOM is working closely with Nigeria’s diplomatic missions in Pretoria and Johannesburg, alongside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to monitor the situation and provide support.
She further advised Nigerians living in South Africa to remain law-abiding, stay vigilant, and avoid high-risk areas, particularly at night.
Earlier, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, had called on South Africa to take decisive action against rising xenophobic attacks and the intimidation of foreign nationals.
In a statement delivered by his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, Guterres expressed serious concern over incidents reported in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, condemning both criminal acts and rhetoric that incites violence against migrants.
“Violence, vigilantism and all forms of incitement to hatred have no place in an inclusive, democratic society,” he said.
This followed a recent report of the deaths of two Nigerians, Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew, in separate incidents linked to escalating tensions in South Africa.
In a statement on Monday, Consul-General Ninikanwa Okey-Uche said Emmanuel died from injuries allegedly sustained after being beaten by personnel of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) on April 20.
She added that Andrew was arrested a day earlier in the Booysens area of Pretoria following an alleged altercation with officers of the Tshwane Metro Police. His body was later found at the Pretoria Central Mortuary.
According to the consulate, the two incidents—both involving security personnel—have sent shockwaves through the Nigerian community and diplomatic circles.
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