Xenophobic: Nigeria Considers Retaliatory Action Against South Africa

Nigeria may review aspects of its diplomatic and economic relationship with South Africa following a fresh wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa that have targeted Nigerians and other African migrants.

The warning was issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday.

The minister accused South African authorities of failing to respond adequately to growing incidents of violence, intimidation and destruction of property affecting Nigerians in South Africa.

According to her, many Nigerians who are legally resident in South Africa have become victims of harassment, while businesses owned by Nigerians have been looted and set ablaze.

“Our citizens are being harassed. Our citizens’ properties are being looted. Criminal actions are being perpetrated, and the police refuse to do anything. The South African government has not come out strongly and firmly enough to condemn these incidents,” she said.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu dismissed allegations that Nigerians affected by the attacks were undocumented migrants, insisting that many of them operate legitimate businesses and reside legally in the country.

She noted that some Nigerian-owned shops had been looted and burned, while children of Nigerian families were reportedly unable to attend school due to intimidation and fear.

The minister also expressed disappointment over what she described as South Africa’s failure to acknowledge Nigeria’s historical support during the anti-apartheid struggle.

She recalled that Nigeria committed significant financial and diplomatic resources to South Africa’s liberation efforts and provided educational opportunities for South African students during the apartheid era.

“Nigeria sacrificed much for the South African struggle for independence. Nigeria committed funds, committed resources. In schools, seats were reserved for South African students. Nigerians are not happy about how they have been treated,” she stated.

She further argued that the latest attacks appeared to be specifically directed at Black African migrants.

“They are not asking other migrants to leave. They are only asking Black migrants to leave,” she said.

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The minister also confirmed that the Federal Government is considering reciprocal measures against South African interests operating in Nigeria. According to her, discussions on possible retaliatory actions are already underway at the highest levels of government.

“That is a situation that we are considering. This is a decision that has to be taken at the highest level of government. But it is not off the table,” she said.

Her comments have intensified concerns about the future of Nigeria-South Africa relations, especially as tensions continue to rise over the treatment of Nigerian nationals in the Southern African country.

Meanwhile, the latest unrest has triggered a surge in requests for voluntary repatriation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that 1,094 Nigerians have so far registered to return home following the attacks, a significant increase from the initial figure of about 130 persons.

Nigerian authorities, in collaboration with South African officials, have begun screening affected citizens to determine eligibility for evacuation.

The Federal Government has also announced plans to provide free air transportation for qualified returnees after initially indicating that evacuees might be required to fund their own travel arrangements.

Amid growing criticism, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the attacks and pledged decisive action against groups involved in xenophobic violence.

Ramaphosa stated that immigration enforcement remains the responsibility of government institutions and not vigilante groups, while promising reforms aimed at strengthening border security and immigration management.

The latest wave of violence has also affected migrants from other African countries. Mozambican authorities recently confirmed that several of their citizens were killed during anti-immigrant attacks, while hundreds have returned home out of fear.

Analysts say rising unemployment, economic hardship and anti-immigrant sentiment have contributed to recurring outbreaks of xenophobic violence in South Africa, which have periodically strained diplomatic relations between Pretoria and several African nations, including Nigeria.

As pressure mounts on South African authorities to protect foreign nationals, Nigeria appears increasingly prepared to explore stronger diplomatic options if attacks on its citizens continue.

Xenophobic: Nigeria Considers Retaliatory Action Against South Africa

NAF Tracks 46 Abducted Pupils, Teachers in Oyo as Tinubu Deploys Special Rescue Unit

OYO STATE – The Nigerian Air Force has continued aerial surveillance support in efforts to rescue abducted pupils and teachers taken from Yawota and Ahoro-Esinele communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. According to a statement by NAF spokesman Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the development was confirmed during a courtesy visit by representatives of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, and the Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Suleh. The visit underscored the Air Force’s commitment to collaborating with state authorities in addressing the security crisis that has left 46 people – including 39 pupils and seven teachers – in captivity since May 15, 2026.

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, said the Air Force deployed an aerial surveillance platform immediately after the abduction was reported, providing critical intelligence to support search-and-rescue operations. According to the governor, the intelligence generated from the surveillance missions has continued to assist security agencies in tracking developments and coordinating efforts to secure the victims’ release. The governor noted that the intervention came at a critical time, as Oyo State’s newly acquired aerial security assets are yet to become operational. He explained that the surveillance aircraft was made available while the state’s newly procured aircraft are still being assembled at the NAF Base in Lagos. Makinde further explained that the state acquired the aerial platforms following consultations with the Nigerian Air Force to ensure access to maintenance support, engineering expertise, and pilot training, expressing confidence that the assets would significantly enhance security operations across Oyo State and neighbouring states once fully operational.

Speaking on behalf of the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Suleh reaffirmed the Air Force’s commitment to supporting rescue operations and working with other security agencies to ensure the safe return of the abducted victims. He conveyed the NAF’s solidarity with the government and people of Oyo State and praised the state government’s support for Air Force projects and infrastructure development within the state. He stressed that the Air Force would continue to work closely with other security agencies and relevant stakeholders to safeguard lives and property while addressing security challenges across the country. The NAF has urged residents to remain patient and supportive, assuring that coordinated resources are being deployed to resolve the situation.

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The pupils and teachers of Baptist Nursery and Primary School (Yawota) , Community Grammar School (Esiele) , and L.A. Primary School were abducted on May 15, 2026, during an attack by armed bandits. The attackers reportedly seized 39 pupils and seven teachers, bringing the total number of victims to 46. The abduction has been marked by tragedy. A teacher, Mr. Michael Oyedokun, a Mathematics teacher at Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele, was killed while in captivity – reportedly beheaded by the abductors, with a video of the killing circulating online. Another school official, an Assistant Headmaster identified as Mr. Adesiyan, was also killed during the initial attack, along with a yet-to-be-identified motorcycle rider. Some teachers were reportedly shot or injured during the raid.

Security operatives attempting to rescue the victims have encountered significant challenges, including improvised explosive devices (IEDs) reportedly planted by the kidnappers. Some security personnel were injured in these explosions, underscoring the sophistication of the criminal network behind the attack. The presence of IEDs suggests the abductors may have links to better-resourced criminal or insurgent groups operating in the region.

Following the abduction, President Bola Tinubu approved the deployment of a specialised tactical security unit to launch a fresh rescue operation and ensure the victims are returned safely. The President, in a statement on June 1, 2026, said security agencies have been instructed to sustain intelligence-driven operations and deploy all lawful resources necessary to bring the abducted pupils and teachers home safely. President Tinubu also approved the immediate recruitment of 1,000 local forest guards in collaboration with the Oyo State Government to strengthen security in vulnerable communities and secure the state’s forest corridors often exploited by criminal elements. The forest guards will be sourced locally from the communities to improve surveillance and intelligence gathering within the vast forest corridors.

A high-powered Federal Government delegation, led by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, visited the affected Esiele and Yawota communities to assess the situation and comfort the families of the victims. The delegation included top security chiefs: National Security Adviser Malam Nuhu Ribadu, Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu, and the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare. The delegation assured anxious residents that the President is deeply troubled by the incident and that all necessary resources are being deployed.

The incident triggered protests by teachers and civil society groups in Ibadan, calling for urgent rescue action. Members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State protested on May 30, carrying placards and chanting “Bring Back Our Children,” warning that the prolonged captivity of the victims had deepened fears over the safety of schools across the state. The NUT also declared an indefinite strike in Oyo State to protest the security breach and demand faster action from authorities. Similarly, members of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) and Civil Society Organisations marched across Bodija, Mokola, Iwo Road, and the state Secretariat in Agodi, Ibadan, demanding immediate release of the abductees. Student leader Mr. Moses Olawole decried the government’s delayed actions, stating that with decisive action, the situation wouldn’t have lasted about three weeks, warning that students would march to Aso Rock, Abuja, for a national protest by June 8 if the government failed to free the abductees. The House of Representatives has also urged federal authorities and security agencies to ensure the victims are returned safely.

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Addressing protesters on June 2 in Ibadan, Governor Makinde appealed to Nigerians to stop apportioning blame over the abduction and instead support government efforts to ensure the speedy release of the victims. He disclosed that federal security operatives have been in the state for the past two weeks and that he meets with them at least three times daily to review rescue efforts. “This is not the time to trade blames that it’s the President that should have handled this or the governor or the local government chairman. This is the time to pull together as one, because we are not dealing with normal human beings. The bandits are not normal people,” Makinde said. The governor recalled that his father taught at Ahoro Dada Primary School in 1959/60, very close to where the abduction took place, stating: “I wouldn’t have been born if such incident happened to him while teaching there.” He appealed to residents of the affected communities and the state at large to remain patient and support ongoing security operations, assuring them that all necessary resources were being deployed to ensure the successful resolution of the incident, and warned against actions that could deepen divisions, saying “we shouldn’t provide oxygen to people that want to see us divided.”

The successful rescue of Mrs. Olaide Busayo Adegoke John-Paul (sister of former Minister of Power, Chief Bayo Adelabu) and her twin sons on June 6 has sparked renewed public demands for the speedy recovery of the Oriire schoolchildren and teachers. Many Nigerians on social media have questioned why the same level of operational success had yet to be recorded in the Oriire case, urging authorities not to relent until every abducted child and teacher regains freedom. Mrs. Olufunmilayo Adelabu, mother of the former minister, also spoke about the Oriire victims, revealing that she wept bitterly when she saw the abducted schoolchildren on her phone, only for her own daughter and grandsons to be kidnapped the following day. She prayed for the release of the Oriire victims, saying: “The God who freed my children from bondage will free others too. None of them will die there. They will all come home safely.”

The abduction has renewed concerns over the safety of schools in southwestern Nigeria, a region previously less affected by such大规模 school kidnappings. Security analyst Cheta Nwanze described the abductions as a troubling development, warning that the spread of school kidnappings into Nigeria’s South-West represents a dangerous escalation of insecurity and demonstrates how criminal networks previously concentrated in the North-West and North-East are increasingly extending operations into other regions. The Nigerian Air Force reiterated its commitment to collaborating with other security agencies to ensure the safe return of the abducted teachers and pupils and tackle emerging security threats across the country.

NAF Tracks 46 Abducted Pupils, Teachers in Oyo as Tinubu Deploys Special Rescue Unit

MURIC Denounces Joint Statement With Fulani Group, Clarifies Identity Confusion With AMURIC

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has issued an urgent clarification distancing itself from a joint statement released on Friday, June 5, 2026, in conjunction with a Fulani group, explaining that the statement actually came from another Islamic organization with a confusingly similar name: AMURIC (Amalgamated Muslim Rights Concern).

In a press statement signed by Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade, Secretary of MURIC’s Oyo State Chapter, on Saturday, June 6, 2026, the group informed the public that there exists another Islamic body called AMURIC, which was responsible for the joint statement. “We wish to explain further that it was AMURIC that issued a statement in conjunction with a Fulani group yesterday, not MURIC,” the statement read.

While clarifying the identity mix-up, MURIC affirmed that like every other ethnic group in Nigeria, the Yoruba people have the inalienable right to defend themselves against bandits and terrorists. The group stated that Yoruba leaders of all persuasions have the right to mobilise the youth towards achieving this objective. This affirmation comes amid growing concerns over insecurity in the South-West region, where incidents of banditry, kidnapping, and terrorist infiltration have prompted calls for local vigilance and self-defence measures.

MURIC acknowledged that AMURIC is a sister Islamic organization made up of respected Muslim brothers and sisters, but advised the leadership of the group to make such changes in its name as to easily differentiate between it and MURIC. “We therefore call on those behind AMURIC to adopt a distinctly different name that will not create confusion with MURIC or mislead the public regarding the source of statements issued by either organization,” the statement added. MURIC explained that it would be difficult for it to change its own name because it has been using the same name since its formation in 1994. The group noted that it was this same name that was registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) , suggesting that it may be difficult for the authorities to register AMURIC.

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The clarification became necessary, MURIC explained, because the organization has a difference of opinion from the position taken by AMURIC in its press statement of Friday, June 5, 2026. In particular, MURIC stated that it does not see the need for bringing the names of respected Yoruba leaders like Chief Sunday Igboho, Chief Ayodele Fayose (former Ekiti State Governor), and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State into the narrative.

Although it described itself as a national organisation, MURIC expressed its belief that bandits who make inroads into Yorubaland should be severely dealt with by both the security agencies and the civilians themselves. The group specifically mentioned that this should be done under the auspices of vigilante groups like Amotekun, Oduduwa People’s Congress (OPC) , Iru Ekun, and others. MURIC concluded by reiterating that it was AMURIC that issued Friday’s statement in connivance with a Fulani group, not MURIC, and that the organization knew nothing about it. The clarification comes amid heightened tensions over security in the South-West region, where concerns about banditry and terrorist incursions have prompted calls for local vigilance and self-defence measures.

MURIC Denounces Joint Statement With Fulani Group, Clarifies Identity Confusion With AMURIC