Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has strongly condemned the alleged torture and killing of Nigerians by South African police, warning that the continued attacks on Nigerian citizens in the country can no longer be accepted.
Fani-Kayode made the remarks in a statement posted on his official social media page on Tuesday after what he described as watching a secretly recorded video showing a Nigerian man allegedly being beaten and tortured to death by members of the South African Police Service.
According to him, the disturbing footage showed the victim being suffocated with a plastic bag while crying out for help.
The former minister said he was deeply shaken after watching the video and described the alleged incident as both painful and unacceptable.
“I just watched a secretly recorded video of a Nigerian national being beaten to death by members of the South African Police Service in his home, and I am mortified. I listened to the young man’s screams as they put a plastic bag over his head and tortured him, and I was badly shaken,” he said.
Fani-Kayode accused South African security personnel and anti-foreigner groups of carrying out repeated attacks against Nigerians, saying the alleged killings, racial profiling and persecution of Nigerians must come to an end.
He said the continued targeting of Nigerians through what he described as racial stereotyping, extra-judicial killings and violence was unacceptable, adding that Nigerians deserved protection like every other lawful resident.
“The vilification, persecution, targeting, extrajudicial killing, racial stereotyping and murder of Nigerians in South Africa are unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” he stated.
He further disclosed that he raised the issue during a meeting with South Africa’s Foreign Minister on Monday, where discussions focused on improving relations between both countries and reducing growing tensions.
According to him, both sides agreed on the need to de-escalate hostile rhetoric and work together to strengthen bilateral ties.
However, he stressed that meaningful progress would only be achieved if those responsible for attacks on Nigerians were identified, arrested and prosecuted.
Fani-Kayode claimed that no fewer than 90 Nigerians had allegedly been killed in South Africa since 2022 by what he described as Afrophobic groups, violent mobs and security operatives.
He also alleged that six Nigerians had been killed in South Africa this year alone, including three who were allegedly killed by police officers.
According to him, despite the number of reported deaths, there have been no convictions, a situation he said has encouraged further attacks.
“If our relations are to stabilise with South Africa, this has to stop. We have made much progress, and we had a productive meeting with the South Africans yesterday where we agreed to de-escalate the rhetoric and work closely together to stabilise the situation and build stronger bilateral ties.
“This is a step in the right direction and has brought us hope, but much more needs to be done. Action speaks louder than words,” he added.
The latest comments come amid renewed concern over the safety of Nigerians living in South Africa. Over the years, several incidents involving attacks on foreign nationals, particularly Africans from other countries, have strained diplomatic relations between Nigeria and South Africa.
Successive Nigerian governments have repeatedly condemned attacks on their citizens and have demanded stronger action from South African authorities to protect foreign nationals and bring perpetrators to justice.
The issue has also attracted the attention of the National Assembly. Recently, the House of Representatives called on the Federal Government to strengthen diplomatic engagement with South Africa following fresh reports of xenophobic attacks, unlawful arrests and the killing of Nigerians in the country.
Lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to document cases involving Nigerian victims and pursue compensation where appropriate.
Civil society groups and the Nigerian community in South Africa have also continued to express concern over alleged harassment, unlawful arrests and violent attacks against Nigerians, calling for improved protection and better cooperation between the governments of both countries.
Nigeria and South Africa remain two of Africa’s largest economies and have maintained strong diplomatic and economic relations for decades. Both countries are key members of the African Union and have worked together on several continental initiatives.
However, periodic outbreaks of xenophobic violence and allegations of attacks on Nigerian citizens have continued to test those relations, leading to diplomatic protests, high-level meetings and calls for stronger protection of foreign nationals.
While Fani-Kayode welcomed the outcome of the recent discussions with South African officials, he insisted that dialogue alone would not be enough.
He maintained that concrete action must follow the commitments made by both countries, stressing that justice for victims and greater protection for Nigerians living in South Africa would be the true test of the renewed efforts to improve bilateral relations.
His comments have added to growing calls for South African authorities to thoroughly investigate allegations of abuse involving security personnel and ensure that anyone found responsible for unlawful killings or other human rights violations is brought before the law.