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By Victor Osula, Abuja
The federal government has delivered its strongest diplomatic rebuke yet to South Africa for persistent attacks on Nigerians, declaring that the killing of its citizens must stop immediately after revealing that at least 98 Nigerians have died from mob violence and hatred in the country over the past four years.
The stern warning was issued in Abuja on Monday during a high-level diplomatic engagement with South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, who arrived in Nigeria as President Cyril Ramaphosa’s special envoy to ease rising tensions over recurring attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa.
Lamola first conveyed a message from President Ramaphosa to President Bola Tinubu before holding talks with senior Nigerian officials led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye.
President Tinubu directed the meeting to frankly address the issue of repeated attacks on Nigerians, amid growing public outrage over the safety of Nigerian citizens living and working in South Africa.
Addressing the South African delegation, Enikanolaiye said Nigeria could no longer remain silent over what he described as a disturbing pattern of “Afrophobic attacks” against Nigerians and other African migrants.
“We have seen a pattern that has become a cause for concern for the Nigerian government,” the minister said.
He revealed that official documents show that 98 Nigerians have been killed in hate- and mob-related attacks in South Africa since 2022, while stressing that outbreaks of xenophobic violence against foreign nationals have persisted since 1995.
The minister stressed that Nigeria expects Pretoria to go beyond expressions of concern by taking urgent and concrete measures to stop the violence, prosecute those responsible and ensure that foreign nationals are adequately protected.
According to him, the continued attacks threaten decades of strategic cooperation between Nigeria and South Africa, widely considered Africa’s two largest economies and influential regional powers.
Enikanolaiye recalled the evacuation of over 1,500 Nigerians from South Africa following earlier waves of xenophobic violence, describing the experience as one of the most harrowing moments of his public service.
“I cried when I received the first group of displaced people. I saw children, women and elderly people returning home with almost nothing after their properties were looted and destroyed. This is not the Africa we want,” he said.
He lamented that many victims were legal residents who had invested their lives and businesses in South Africa, only to lose everything during violent attacks.
The minister questioned the failure of South African security agencies to prevent or quickly stop the attacks, saying the repeated incidents raised serious concerns about the protection of migrants and state responsibility.
While reaffirming Nigeria’s zero tolerance towards criminality, Enikanolaiye maintained that charges against any individual must be dealt with through legal judicial procedures rather than mob violence.
“Nigeria will not support drug traffickers or any criminal activity, but those accused of crimes must be treated in accordance with the rule of law, the Constitution of South Africa and international human rights standards,” he said.
He stressed that suspects should be arrested, investigated and prosecuted where evidence exists, insisting that jungle justice has no place in any democratic society.
The minister also reminded the South African delegation of Nigeria’s immense contribution to the fight against apartheid, recalling decades of political, diplomatic and financial support provided to South Africa during its liberation struggle.
He also highlighted the close collaboration between the two countries in transforming the Organization of African Unity into the African Union and in advancing continental initiatives such as the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
Despite Nigeria’s strong protest, Enikanolaiye reaffirmed Abuja’s commitment to maintaining cordial bilateral relations, expressing optimism that a sustained dialogue would strengthen mutual trust and preserve African solidarity.
In response, Lamola said his mission was to reaffirm the historic friendship between the two countries, while engaging Nigerian authorities on concerns about attacks on foreign citizens. He recognized Nigeria’s vital role in liberating South Africa from apartheid, describing the country’s sacrifices as invaluable.
“We are deeply indebted to the Nigerian people for their sacrifice,” he said.
Lamola reiterated that President Ramaphosa’s administration remains firmly against xenophobia, racism, discrimination, homophobia and any other form of intolerance.
However, he argued that South Africa also has a constitutional obligation to enforce its immigration laws and combat criminal activity, including drug trafficking, internet fraud and irregular immigration.
According to him, migration has become a continental challenge that requires coordinated responses from African governments within the framework of the African Union on orderly and regular migration.
“We believe that Nigeria and South Africa have a shared responsibility in responding to these challenges on the African continent,” he said, adding that President Ramaphosa’s message to President Tinubu will be further discussed in a closed session.
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