In the past year, at least 20 Nigerians have met brutal and untimely deaths in South Africa, with justice remaining elusive for the victims’ families. This stark revelation comes from Frank Onyewekelu, President of the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa, who raised alarm over the extrajudicial killings of Nigerian nationals.
Onyewekelu’s statements follow the tragic killing of Julius Chukwunta, a Nigerian national murdered in a disturbing incident on December 7, 2024, in Johannesburg. According to Chukwunta’s partner, the assault occurred after the victim, returning home from work, was confronted by a group of men who blocked the entrance to his residential complex. When Chukwunta asked them to move their vehicle, tensions escalated, leading to a violent confrontation.
“He tried to reason with them and went to report the matter to the security post. But the four men, including three Zimbabwean nationals, followed him and brutally attacked him,” Onyewekelu recounted in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH.
The four assailants inflicted grave injuries on Chukwunta, leaving him with a severe head wound after a brick was used to strike him. Tragically, Chukwunta died of his injuries on December 10, three days after the attack. “The wound was deep. He lost too much blood, and despite being rushed to the hospital, he couldn’t survive,” Onyewekelu explained.
While the accused were charged with murder, a disturbing development followed. “Three of the suspects, despite their serious charges, were granted bail of 10,000 rand each. This is a blatant disregard for justice,” Onyewekelu lamented, expressing his frustration with the slow legal processes in South Africa.
This incident is far from isolated. Onyewekelu noted that between November 2023 and December 2024, as many as 15 to 20 Nigerians have fallen victim to similar violent attacks, many of them carried out by South African security forces. These incidents highlight a disturbing pattern of abuse and lack of accountability.
Onyewekelu elaborated on other recent cases of police brutality, including a Nigerian who died in a holding cell in Cape Town after being arrested by police officers, allegedly due to injuries sustained during an interrogation. “I personally traveled to Northern Cape in May to report a case where a Nigerian man was suffocated by police while his house was being searched. There is evidence, but the authorities are silent,” he revealed.
Despite repeated appeals to Nigeria’s High Commission in South Africa, Onyewekelu is critical of the Nigerian government’s inadequate response to these killings. “We have tried to reach out to the government, but they have not done enough. We expect stronger action to ensure that South African authorities understand that Nigerian lives matter,” he emphasized.
The lack of adequate diplomatic intervention has left many families in limbo, with the remains of the deceased repatriated without a clear understanding of the circumstances surrounding their deaths. “Many of the bodies come back to Nigeria without any proper investigation or even a proper explanation of the cause of death,” Onyewekelu noted.
In his impassioned plea, Onyewekelu called for a greater effort from the Nigerian government, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidency, to address the ongoing violence against Nigerian nationals. “We want our government to stand up for us and ensure that South African authorities take action. The South African police and courts must not be allowed to operate with impunity,” he asserted.
The Nigerian community in South Africa faces a complex and dangerous environment. While the majority of Nigerians in the country are self-employed, working in businesses ranging from retail to medical practices, they are often scapegoated as the cause of unemployment and social unrest. “There is a pervasive myth that Nigerians are taking jobs from South Africans, but the truth is that most Nigerians run their businesses. They employ South Africans, and the majority of Nigerians are in small businesses, not in large corporations or the government,” Onyewekelu explained.
This resentment towards Nigerians, exacerbated by xenophobic sentiments, has led to increased violence, according to Onyewekelu. “The hatred is not just towards Nigerians, but all foreign nationals. However, Nigerians seem to be at the top of the list, and we don’t understand why. We know the allegations are unfounded, yet they continue to lead to tragic consequences,” he said.
Despite these challenges, Onyewekelu remains resolute in his call for justice. “We are not saying that anyone should be above the law. If a Nigerian commits a crime, they should be tried in a court of law, not killed in the streets or by security forces,” he emphasized.
The question of accountability remains at the heart of the struggle. With cases of extrajudicial killings and police brutality mounting, Onyewekelu’s call for justice is clear: “We cannot keep losing our people in silence. It is time for both the South African government and the Nigerian authorities to take stronger, more decisive action.”
