Reps investigate xenophobic attacks, seek compensation for Nigerians in South Africa

The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the human and economic losses suffered by Nigerians during recurring xenophobic attacks in South Africa, while urging the Federal Government to pursue compensation for victims and strengthen diplomatic efforts to safeguard Nigerians living in the country.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by the member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Babajimi Benson, who called for a comprehensive assessment of the lives lost, properties destroyed and businesses affected by repeated anti-foreigner violence in South Africa.

The House mandated its relevant committees to investigate the extent of the damage suffered by Nigerians over the years and recommend measures to secure justice, compensation and improved protection for citizens living and working in South Africa.

Speaking during the debate, Benson recalled Nigeria’s historic contribution to South Africa’s liberation from apartheid, noting that the country committed enormous diplomatic, political and financial resources to support the anti-apartheid struggle.

He lamented that despite Nigeria’s longstanding support, Nigerians residing legally in South Africa have continued to face xenophobic attacks for nearly two decades.

According to the lawmaker, the attacks have been marked by killings, mob violence, physical assaults, looting of businesses, arson, destruction of homes and commercial properties, forced displacement and organised hate campaigns targeting African migrants.

Benson cited major outbreaks of xenophobic violence in 2008, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021, saying the incidents strained diplomatic relations between Nigeria and South Africa and forced the evacuation of hundreds of Nigerians.

He also expressed concern over renewed anti-immigration campaigns by groups such as Operation Dudula, which have intensified fears among foreign nationals living in South Africa.

The lawmakers stressed that while Nigeria remains committed to maintaining cordial relations with South Africa, the safety and welfare of Nigerians abroad must remain a national priority.

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Meanwhile, the President of the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), Frank Onyekwelu, said South African communities are beginning to experience the economic consequences of attacks on foreign-owned businesses.

Speaking on Channels Television, Onyekwelu said repeated attacks have forced many foreign entrepreneurs to shut down their businesses, slowing commercial activities and reducing cash circulation in affected communities.

He noted that many South Africans who previously supported anti-foreigner campaigns are beginning to realise the economic value of migrant-owned businesses, particularly neighbourhood stores that provide affordable goods and essential services.

“The reality is beginning to catch up with them. It’s one thing to demand that foreigners leave; it’s another to face the consequences afterwards. We have seen South Africans asking foreign business owners to return because they can no longer access affordable goods nearby,” he said.

According to him, the closure of many businesses has disrupted local economies, with several communities now experiencing reduced access to essential goods and declining commercial activities.

Onyekwelu disclosed that NICASA continues to receive reports of threats and attacks against Nigerians through its provincial leadership structures across South Africa’s nine provinces.

He said many Nigerians have lost homes, businesses and investments built over several years after fleeing violent attacks, while others remain displaced or live in fear of renewed violence.

The NICASA president revealed that the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg and the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria have directed affected Nigerians to register their losses to facilitate proper documentation and possible future compensation claims.

He cited the July 5 attack on a Nigerian-owned mechanic workshop, where more than 25 vehicles were reportedly destroyed by fire, as one of the latest incidents highlighting the dangers faced by Nigerians in the country.

Onyekwelu maintained that Nigerians should not be collectively blamed for the actions of a few individuals, insisting that nationality should never be used as a basis for discrimination or violence.

He also accused some politicians of exploiting anti-foreigner sentiments for electoral gains, alleging that migrants, including Nigerians, have become convenient targets during political campaigns.

The House of Representatives urged the Federal Government to intensify diplomatic engagement with South African authorities to ensure better protection for Nigerians and prevent future xenophobic attacks.

Lawmakers also called for stronger bilateral cooperation between both countries to prosecute perpetrators, protect legitimate businesses and strengthen confidence among investors operating across both economies.

Analysts believe the latest intervention by the House reflects growing concern over the safety of Nigerians abroad and the need to preserve the strategic relationship between Nigeria and South Africa, two of Africa’s largest economies.

They note that both countries maintain substantial investments in telecommunications, banking, retail, manufacturing, aviation and entertainment, making lasting solutions to xenophobic violence essential for regional integration and economic cooperation under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Reps investigate xenophobic attacks, seek compensation for Nigerians in South Africa

NSCDC busts alleged fake university in Lagos, rescues 106 students

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has uncovered an alleged fake university operating from a three-bedroom apartment in Ilado, within the Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, rescuing 106 young people believed to have been lured into a fraudulent admission scheme.

The operation, carried out by the NSCDC Badagry Area Command in the early hours of Monday, also led to the arrest of the suspected proprietor, who allegedly deceived prospective students from different parts of Nigeria and neighbouring West African countries with promises of admission into a foreign university.

According to the NSCDC, the raid followed several days of intelligence gathering and covert surveillance after security operatives received credible information about suspicious activities at the location.

Speaking after the operation, the Badagry Area Commander, Chief Superintendent Gbenga Ekunola, said investigators closely monitored the premises before moving in to dismantle the operation.

“We got reliable intelligence about the activities going on there. Our officers monitored the place for days before moving in. We have arrested the proprietor, who is assisting with our investigation, while the students have been taken into our protective custody,” Ekunola said.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the institution allegedly had no official name, registration, signboard or recognised campus, yet it presented itself online as a distance-learning centre affiliated with a foreign university.

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Investigators believe the operators used digital platforms and social media to attract unsuspecting admission seekers by promising internationally recognised academic qualifications.

The NSCDC disclosed that most of the rescued youths, aged between 19 and 24, travelled from states including Kogi, Oyo and several northern states after responding to online advertisements promoting the programme.

The investigation also revealed that some of the victims came from neighbouring countries, including Niger, Cameroon and Togo, believing they were enrolling in a legitimate foreign-affiliated tertiary institution.

According to investigators, the victims allegedly paid between ₦200,000 and ₦1.5 million as admission and processing fees, while some foreign nationals reportedly paid between $400 and $500 to secure admission into the purported institution.

The corps further alleged that participants were encouraged to recruit additional students in exchange for commissions, with the recruitment model operating in a manner similar to a Ponzi or multi-level marketing (MLM) scheme.

One of the rescued students reportedly told investigators that after paying $400 to join the programme, he persuaded his brother in Kogi State to enrol and had already started receiving referral commissions.

Investigators also alleged that some participants earned additional income by marketing unidentified products online while receiving commissions from product sales and recruitment activities.

Ekunola said many parents and guardians were unaware of the true nature of their children’s activities in Badagry.

“We have started contacting their families. One parent told us her child informed the family that he came to Badagry to learn a trade, not to attend a university. That shows many of these parents were completely unaware,” he said.

The area commander disclosed that all 106 rescued youths would undergo profiling, counselling and other necessary procedures before being reunited with their families after investigations are concluded.

He warned individuals and groups operating illegal educational institutions to stop exploiting admission seekers, stressing that anyone found culpable would face prosecution in accordance with the law.

The NSCDC also announced that investigations have been expanded to identify other members of the alleged syndicate, trace financial transactions linked to the operation and determine whether similar fraudulent admission schemes are operating in other parts of the country.

The corps urged parents, guardians and prospective students to verify the accreditation status of any tertiary institution through relevant regulatory agencies before paying admission or processing fees.

Education experts have repeatedly warned that enrolling in unaccredited institutions could expose students to financial losses and certificates that are not recognised for employment, professional licensing or further academic studies.

The latest operation underscores the ongoing efforts by security agencies to dismantle illegal educational institutions and protect unsuspecting Nigerians from admission-related fraud.

NSCDC busts alleged fake university in Lagos, rescues 106 students

Former Miss Universe Nigeria Chidimma Adetshina battles deportation in South African court

Former Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 and Miss Universe Africa & Oceania, Chidimma Adetshina, has appeared before the Cape Town Regional Court to challenge the South African Department of Home Affairs’ attempt to deport her, as a legal battle over her immigration status continues to attract attention across Africa.

The latest court hearing followed an application filed by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs, which is seeking judicial approval to continue Adetshina’s detention pending her deportation. Her legal team, however, argues that the deportation process is unlawful and has asked the court to halt the proceedings while her immigration status is fully determined.

Adetshina was arrested in June 2026 after the Department of Home Affairs alleged that she had entered South Africa without lawful immigration status after previously being declared a prohibited person. Authorities subsequently initiated deportation proceedings, while her lawyers insisted that she had been taking steps to regularise her stay in the country.

During the proceedings, Adetshina’s legal representatives argued that she is not a flight risk, describing her as a globally recognised public figure who has cooperated with immigration authorities throughout the process. They also informed the court that she is willing to surrender her South African passport if necessary and comply with any conditions the court may impose while the case is being determined.

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The defence further submitted an affidavit detailing the efforts Adetshina has made to regularise her immigration status, maintaining that she should not be detained or deported before the legal issues surrounding her residency are resolved.

The immigration dispute is the latest chapter in a controversy that first emerged during the Miss South Africa 2024 pageant.

Born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, Adetshina was among the leading contestants for the Miss South Africa crown before withdrawing from the competition after questions were raised about her family’s citizenship documentation.

In August 2024, South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs announced that preliminary investigations suggested Adetshina’s mother may have been involved in identity fraud. Although the investigation focused on her mother’s documentation, the controversy triggered widespread online criticism and xenophobic attacks directed at Adetshina because of her Nigerian heritage, despite her being born in South Africa and meeting the pageant’s eligibility requirements.

Following her withdrawal from the South African competition, Adetshina accepted an invitation to contest the Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 pageant, where she emerged winner and went on to represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe 2024 competition.

She achieved international acclaim after finishing as first runner-up at the global pageant and was crowned Miss Universe Africa & Oceania, recording one of Nigeria’s strongest performances in the competition’s history.

Meanwhile, lawyers representing the Department of Home Affairs maintained that the agency acted within the law in declaring Adetshina a prohibited person and initiating deportation proceedings. They urged the court to uphold the department’s actions, arguing that immigration laws must be enforced consistently.

The case has also drawn legal attention following a recent ruling by the Western Cape High Court, which questioned the authority of magistrates to issue warrants authorising immigration detention. That judgment has become one of the legal issues being considered in Adetshina’s challenge against her continued detention.

After hearing arguments from both parties, the Cape Town Regional Court reserved judgment and adjourned the matter. The court is expected to deliver its ruling on August 19, 2026, a decision that could determine whether Adetshina remains in South Africa or faces deportation.

The outcome of the case is expected to have broader implications for immigration enforcement, administrative justice and the treatment of citizenship-related disputes in South Africa.

Former Miss Universe Nigeria Chidimma Adetshina battles deportation in South African court