Xenophobia: 105 Nigerians Killed in South Africa in 7 Years

The Nigerian community in South Africa has raised fresh concerns over the safety of Nigerians living in the country, revealing that no fewer than 105 Nigerians have been killed in the last seven years amid recurring xenophobic violence and attacks on migrants . Leaders of the community said the deaths were linked to mob attacks, shootings, alleged police brutality, vigilante violence, and other unresolved incidents involving foreign nationals .

The concerns were contained in a statement jointly signed by Smart Nwobi of the Nigerian Union South Africa (NUSA) and Frank Onyekwelu of the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA) . The group was reacting to reports credited to South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) , which reportedly suggested that migrants were not being deliberately targeted or killed in the country . However, the Nigerian community strongly rejected the claim, insisting that several incidents involving Nigerians had either been ignored or downplayed over the years .

“Denying or minimising the concerns raised by migrant communities risks discouraging victims and witnesses from reporting abuses and undermines efforts toward justice, reconciliation, and social cohesion,” the statement said . The community noted that Nigerians have allegedly been victims of fatal mob attacks, extrajudicial killings, unlawful shootings, violent raids, and deaths in police custody . It stated that community records and reports gathered from civil society groups, media publications, and migrant associations showed disturbing patterns of violence against Nigerians between 2019 and 2026 .

The statement recalled that in 2019, several Nigerian-owned businesses, vehicles, and shops were destroyed during widespread xenophobic unrest in Johannesburg and other areas, with at least 12 Nigerians losing their lives during the attacks through mob violence and brutal assaults . It added that in 2022, over 17 Nigerians reportedly died in separate incidents involving criminal attacks, alleged security brutality, and vigilante-style killings . The Nigerian community further claimed that more than 40 Nigerians lost their lives in 2023 alone under what it described as “troubling and unresolved circumstances,” ranging from mob violence to alleged police misconduct and violent confrontations that were never fully investigated .

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The group also disclosed that eight Nigerians reportedly died in 2024, while another eight deaths were recorded in 2025 through shootings, violent clashes, and incidents in police custody . Most alarmingly, from January 2026 to date, the community claimed that over 20 Nigerians had allegedly died during encounters involving security operatives, criminal gangs, and suspected extrajudicial actions . While acknowledging that some investigations were ongoing, the Nigerian community expressed dissatisfaction over what it described as the absence of accountability and justice in many of the cases, stating that the failure to secure prosecutions or transparent outcomes had increased fear and anxiety among Nigerians and other migrants living in South Africa .

“It is important to emphasise that our position is not intended to undermine South Africa’s democratic institutions, law enforcement agencies, or judicial system,” the statement added . The community also acknowledged that many South Africans continued to support peaceful coexistence and reject xenophobia . Despite this, the group urged the South African government to take stronger steps to protect the lives and rights of all residents, regardless of nationality or immigration status, and called for transparent and impartial investigations into all reported cases involving violent attacks, deaths in custody, and alleged extrajudicial killings .

The latest concerns come just weeks after the Nigerian government demanded investigations into the deaths of two Nigerians, Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew, who were allegedly assaulted by security personnel in South Africa . In response to the escalating crisis, the Federal Government summoned South Africa’s Acting High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lesoli Machele, for urgent talks following renewed unrest . The Nigerian government also began making arrangements for the voluntary evacuation of its citizens from South Africa, with 130 citizens already registered for repatriation as of early May 2026, a number expected to rise .

The National Assembly has also condemned the xenophobic attacks, with the Senate resolving to send a high-level delegation led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio to South Africa to find lasting solutions to the crisis . The House of Representatives called for a review of bilateral relations, including the possible suspension of business permits for South African companies operating in Nigeria and temporary restrictions on trade and aviation agreements . Lawmakers further demanded that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs establish a round-the-clock emergency help desk and a legal support fund for Nigerians affected by the attacks .

Diplomatic pressure on South Africa is mounting as more African countries threaten retaliatory measures over renewed xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals . While no government has officially announced a total closure of borders, threats of blockades, trade suspensions, and heightened security checks are gaining traction across the region in what analysts describe as the most serious diplomatic fallout since the end of apartheid . Neighbouring states such as Lesotho, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, which account for the majority of South Africa’s migrant population, are on high alert, with many citizens seeking to return home as tensions escalate .

Ghana has also summoned South Africa’s acting High Commissioner, Thando Dalamba, to protest the harassment and intimidation of Ghanaian citizens after viral videos surfaced showing a Ghanaian man in KwaZulu-Natal being confronted by a vigilante group and ordered to leave the country . Nigeria’s government, beyond immediate evacuations, is leveraging regional and bilateral channels to press Pretoria for lasting solutions, with officials reminding South Africa of Nigeria’s significant sacrifices during the anti-apartheid struggle and arguing that the current hostility betrays the solidarity that defined the liberation era .

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South Africa’s DIRCO has rejected accusations that the country is xenophobic, describing recent incidents involving foreign nationals as isolated while reaffirming openness to diplomatic engagement . DIRCO Minister Ronald Lamola has engaged counterparts from several African countries, including Ghana and Nigeria, to brief them on developments and reaffirm South Africa’s commitment to protecting the rights of all people living in the country . The department dismissed social media claims that Ghanaian and Nigerian nationals had been killed during recent protests, saying there was “no credible evidence” to support such allegations .

Lamola stated that law enforcement agencies had been instructed to ensure the safety of citizens, residents, and visitors, and to hold perpetrators accountable in accordance with the law . He also noted that South Africa was reviewing its immigration policy framework to better address migration challenges and remained open to “continued diplomatic engagement and constructive dialogue” with African countries on issues of mutual concern . “South Africa will continue to lead with a Pan-African heart,” Lamola said . “Our commitment is to solidarity, the rule of law, and the safety of all who reside within our borders. Migration must be managed through cooperation, compassion and continental responsibility” .

According to DIRCO, about 3 million migrants currently reside in South Africa, approximately 90 percent of whom are from other African countries . The government acknowledged that migration pressures, unemployment, and irregular migration had at times contributed to tensions between local communities and foreign nationals . South African authorities have condemned the attacks as criminal and unlawful, with President Cyril Ramaphosa stating that no one has the right to take the law into their hands . However, with over 118 Nigerians reportedly killed in xenophobic incidents between 2015 and 2026, the Nigerian government insists that rhetoric must now be matched with action .

The Nigerian community urged South African authorities to intensify efforts to protect the lives and rights of all residents, irrespective of nationality or immigration status . It also called for thorough, transparent, and impartial investigations into all reported cases involving violent attacks, deaths in custody, and alleged extrajudicial killings . The group further urged authorities to strengthen measures against xenophobic violence, vigilantism, mob justice, and unlawful conduct by individuals or security personnel, while promoting community dialogue, social integration, and public education to discourage hatred, stereotyping, and violence against foreign nationals .

“No society can thrive where fear, mob justice, or unlawful violence become normalised,” the statement said . “Everyone remains innocent in the eyes of the law until proven guilty in a competent court of justice. We firmly believe that both South Africans and foreign nationals deserve equal protection under the law” . The Nigerian community said it remained committed to peaceful coexistence and constructive engagement with South African authorities in pursuit of a safer society .

Xenophobia: 105 Nigerians Killed in South Africa in 7 Years

Power Generation Drops by 20% as Nigerians Face Fresh Electricity Supply Woes

Millions of Nigerians may face worsening electricity supply disruptions after Nigeria’s power generation recorded a sharp decline on Thursday, deepening concerns over the country’s fragile electricity infrastructure and raising fresh fears of prolonged blackouts for households and businesses.

Data obtained from the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) showed that national power generation fell to 3,527.76 megawatts (MW), representing a drop of 877.28MW or 19.92 per cent compared to the 4,405.04MW recorded the previous day.

The significant drop has heightened concerns among stakeholders over the sustainability of Nigeria’s electricity supply, with experts warning that persistent operational constraints could worsen the nation’s already unstable power situation.

The decline in electricity generation in Nigeria has been linked largely to gas supply shortages affecting thermal power plants, technical faults at critical generation stations, and long-standing weaknesses in the transmission network.

Industry data indicate that Nigeria continues to generate far below its installed capacity of over 13,000MW, with average daily supply frequently fluctuating between 3,500MW and 5,000MW, a level experts say remains grossly inadequate for a population of over 220 million.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has repeatedly highlighted generation shortfalls, transmission bottlenecks and liquidity challenges as key obstacles limiting growth in the sector.

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Power sector stakeholders warn that without urgent structural reforms, Nigerians may continue to grapple with epileptic power supply, increased reliance on generators and rising operational costs.

Reacting to the latest development, energy economist Prof. Wumi Iledare said Nigeria’s power sector is facing both operational and financial distress.

According to him, over ₦4 trillion in legacy debt continues to cripple the electricity value chain.

He said, “Generation companies remain unpaid, gas suppliers are constrained, distribution companies are struggling, while the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc remains overstretched.

“The interventions introduced over the years have largely addressed short-term liquidity pressures without solving the deeper structural problems affecting the market.

“Until Nigeria embraces cost-reflective electricity tariffs, targeted subsidies and stronger market discipline, the power sector will remain financially unsustainable.”

Also reacting, Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Muda Yusuf, said the Nigerian power sector crisis remains one of the country’s most difficult reform challenges.

He noted that despite multiple reform efforts, the sector remains weighed down by policy inconsistencies, weak governance, tariff distortions and investor uncertainty.

“The inability to fully implement cost-reflective tariffs because of political and social considerations has widened the financing gap.

“Government intervention remains necessary in the short term to prevent a total system collapse and sustain electricity supply,” Yusuf said.

Analysts say the latest drop in power generation could further worsen electricity rationing across the country, forcing businesses to spend more on diesel and alternative power sources.

For households already battling high living costs, the development may mean longer blackout hours and additional financial strain as reliance on self-generated electricity rises.

Experts have urged the Federal Government to accelerate investment in gas infrastructure, modernise transmission facilities and address outstanding debts owed to generation companies to stabilise the sector.

Without urgent intervention, they warned, Nigeria’s ambition of achieving reliable and sustainable electricity supply may remain elusive.

Power Generation Drops by 20% as Nigerians Face Fresh Electricity Supply Woes

ISIS Commander Killed to Protect Nigerian Christians, Says US Defence Secretary

The United States Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth, has said Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, identified as the second-in-command of ISIS, was largely responsible for attacks targeting Christians in Nigeria.

Al-Minuki was reportedly killed on May 15 during a joint military operation carried out by US and Nigerian forces in the Lake Chad Basin.

Speaking during a cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday, Hegseth said the operation formed part of ongoing US efforts to combat ISIS activities in Nigeria and protect persecuted Christians.

According to him, President Donald Trump had directed the US military to prioritise the protection of Christians facing violent attacks in Nigeria.

“Maybe a year ago, the President heard the concerns of Nigerian Christians who were being targeted and killed by ISIS,” Hegseth said, according to a Pentagon report.

“And he said, ‘Pete, I want the War Department to focus on ensuring that we do everything we can to protect those Christians.'”

Hegseth explained that the operation involved behind-the-scenes coordination and deployment of military assets to the region.

“And we got the assets there, and over the last month, and there hasn’t been much coverage of this, we killed ISIS number two in Nigeria, who’s most responsible for killing Christians and trying to target the U.S. homeland,” he stated.

The senior ISIS commander was killed on May 15, 2026, during a joint military operation carried out by US and Nigerian forces in the Lake Chad Basin.

President Bola Tinubu earlier confirmed the death of Al-Minuki, disclosing that “several of his lieutenants” were also eliminated during the operation.

According to Nigerian military officials, the “highly complex precision air-land operation” was carried out during hours of darkness, with no US service members harmed.

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The operation targeted Al-Minuki’s compound in Metele, Borno state, where intelligence had established that he had a fortified base.

He was actively plotting threats against Nigerian civilians and Western interests.

Before pledging allegiance to ISIS in 2015, Al-Minuki was a prominent Boko Haram leader, according to the Nigerian army.

The army said Al-Minuki oversaw key ISIS operations in the Sahel and West African regions for the ISIS affiliate in West Africa Province (ISWAP).

In 2023, the US State Department had designated Al-Minuki as a “specially designated global terrorist.”

The designation imposes sanctions on any property he held in the US and restricts transactions.

Hegseth further stated that intelligence gathered since the commencement of US operations against ISIS elements in Nigeria had resulted in the elimination of “hundreds” of ISIS members.

These members were allegedly involved in the killing of Christians in the country.

“And have since, because of the intel we gathered, killed hundreds of ISIS members who were targeting and killing Christians in Nigeria,” he added.

The US military’s Africa Command (AFRICOM) has carried out additional air strikes against ISIS fighters in northeastern Nigeria in coordination with the Nigerian government.

“The removal of these terrorists diminishes the group’s capacity to plan attacks that threaten the safety and security of the US and our partners,” AFRICOM said in a statement.

In a statement issued by the Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, the Defence Headquarters disclosed that coordinated air and ground offensives in the North-East led to the elimination of 175 ISIS fighters.

The operations also destroyed key terrorist infrastructure across the region.

The operations targeted ISIS enclaves, logistics routes, checkpoints, weapons caches, logistics hubs and financial support structures.

These structures were linked to insurgent activities in the Lake Chad region.

The DHQ also confirmed the killing of Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki.

They described him as one of ISIS’s most influential global operatives.

He was responsible for terrorist financing, recruitment, logistics coordination and the planning of attacks against civilians.

Other senior terrorist figures reportedly neutralised during the operation included Abd-al Wahhab, identified as an ISWAP commander coordinating attacks and propaganda operations.

Others were Abu Musa al-Mangawi and Abu al-Muthanna al-Muhajir.

Al-Muhajir was described as a senior media production operative for the terror group.

The Defence Headquarters earlier clarified that Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki was killed during the 2026 joint Nigerian-American military operation.

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He was not killed in an earlier operation in 2024 as widely claimed online.

After the announcements by President Trump and President Tinubu, social media users circulated claims suggesting that Al-Minuki had already been declared dead by the Nigerian military in 2024.

This created confusion over the true identity of the slain insurgent.

Reacting to the reports, DHQ’s Director of Information, Samaila Uba, explained that the confusion was caused by the frequent use of identical names, aliases and nom de guerre among terrorists.

These naming patterns are common among both Islamic State West Africa Province and Boko Haram.

They are part of their indoctrination system aimed at hiding identities and confusing intelligence tracking.

“It is important to state that within the North East region and across the Lake Chad Basin, the use of similar or identical names, aliases and nom de guerres is common among ISWAP and Boko Haram terrorists,” he said.

Uba stressed that the Al-Minuki killed on May 16, 2026, had been positively identified through human intelligence and technical surveillance.

He was confirmed as a senior global operative with direct links to international terrorist coordination.

He also had links to funding and operations across the Sahel.

President Trump confirmed the operation on his Truth Social platform shortly after its success.

“Tonight, at my direction, brave American forces and the Armed Forces of Nigeria flawlessly executed a meticulously planned and very complex mission,” Trump said.

He also thanked the government of Nigeria for their effective cooperation in the mission.

“Abu-Bilal al-Minuki thought he could hide in Africa, but little did he know we had sources who kept us informed on what he was doing,” Trump said.

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“He will no longer terrorize the people of Africa or help plan operations to target Americans,” he added.

Pentagon officials told the BBC that intelligence had established that al-Minuki had established a fortified base in Metele, Borno state.

He was actively plotting threats against Nigerian civilians and Western interests more broadly.

Several mid-level commanders died alongside al-Minuki.

This further weakened the group’s remaining structure in West Africa.

This latest wave of US-Nigeria coordinated attacks comes as dozens of US soldiers have been deployed to Nigeria.

They are helping to fight against armed groups, engage in intelligence sharing and provide technical support.

Last Christmas, US forces launched air strikes on ISIS-affiliated fighters in northwestern Nigeria.

Speaking about whether this incident was part of a broader military campaign, Trump told The New York Times: “I’d love to make it a one-time strike.”

“But if they continue to kill Christians, it will be a many-time strike,” he added.

The Nigerian government has, however, previously rejected Trump’s framing of mass killings of Christians in the West African country.

Analysts have noted that people across all faiths, not just Christians, are victims of armed groups in Nigeria’s protracted conflict zones.

Although Hegseth specifically framed the operation as part of efforts to defend Nigerian Christians targeted by extremist violence, Nigerian authorities have historically maintained a different position.

They maintain that insurgency in the country involves a broader mix of terrorism, criminality, territorial control and regional instability.

This goes beyond purely religious motivations.

The latest disclosure is expected to draw renewed attention to the extent of US military and intelligence involvement in Nigeria’s counterinsurgency operations.

There is growing international concern over persistent attacks by Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

President Tinubu, in his confirmation statement, expressed appreciation to the United States for its support in advancing shared security objectives.

He specifically thanked President Trump for his leadership and cooperation.

“Nigeria appreciates this partnership with the United States in advancing our shared security objectives,” Tinubu said.

“I extend my sincere gratitude to President Trump for his leadership and unwavering support in this effort,” he added.

He also commended military personnel from both countries for their professionalism and courage during the operation.

He expressed optimism that more decisive actions would be carried out against terrorist enclaves across the nation.

Dennis Amachree, former director of the US Department of State Services in Nigeria, told Al Jazeera that the killing of al-Minuki “is going to create a huge vacuum in the leadership and financing of ISWAP.”

He added that “many top officers were decimated with him.”

According to intelligence officials, al-Minuki oversaw key parts of ISIS operations worldwide.

These included attack planning, hostage situations, and moving money across ISIS networks.

Hegseth noted that many of the operations received little public attention despite their significance.

“There are a lot of things we do that the media pays attention to, and a lot of things that the president empowers the department to do on behalf of the American people that he deserves great credit for,” he said.

He added that President Trump remains committed to efforts aimed at protecting vulnerable Christian communities in Nigeria.

The Pentagon plans to keep pressure on remaining ISIS networks in the region.

More operations are expected based on fresh intelligence.

Security analysts continue to monitor the situation in Nigeria’s North-East and the Lake Chad region.

Extremist groups have sustained deadly attacks on communities, security personnel and civilian targets in these areas.

ISIS Commander Killed to Protect Nigerian Christians, Says US Defence Secretary