Nigeria has said two of its citizens were killed in South Africa, including one allegedly by police, amid a surge in anti-migrant violence that has raised diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Nigeria’s foreign ministry said on Sunday that one Nigerian man was shot dead by unidentified criminals in front of his shop in the northeastern city of eMalahleni on June 28. The incident took place as tensions were rising ahead of nationwide anti-migrant protests in South Africa last week.
The ministry said another Nigerian citizen, Emeka Iroegbu, was killed by police officers in Pretoria during an interrogation on the same day. It did not clarify whether the alleged police killing was linked to the wider unrest.
South Africa’s Independent Police Investigative Directorate, the country’s police oversight body, said it had received a report about the Pretoria incident and had opened an investigation.
“Our investigation is underway,” spokesperson Lizzy Suping said on Monday.
There was no immediate response from the South African government. Pretoria has previously disputed some accounts of attacks on foreign nationals issued by other countries.
South Africa deployed the army to support police during last week’s anti-migrant protests, which were largely peaceful but turned violent in some areas.
In recent months, vigilante groups have repeatedly attacked foreign nationals and looted foreign-owned businesses, accusing migrants of contributing to crime and unemployment. Migrant rights groups say foreigners are being scapegoated for South Africa’s deeper economic and social problems.
Mozambique said five of its citizens were killed in xenophobic attacks in late May, while South Africa said only two Mozambican nationals had died. Ghana also said one of its citizens was fatally wounded during last week’s anti-immigrant demonstrations, but South African authorities denied the killing was connected to the protests and accused Ghana of spreading misinformation.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned violence against migrants. Police said 900 people were arrested during last week’s protests.
Nigeria warned South Africa that it could take further action if attacks on its citizens and other foreign nationals continued.
“We wish to place the Government of South Africa on notice that if the situation continues to persist, all options remain on the table,” Nigeria’s foreign ministry said, adding that some measures would be activated if the “trend of intolerance” against foreigners was not addressed.
The ministry also accused South African security operatives of complicity in the violence, saying the “continuing pattern” of attacks raised questions of state responsibility under international law.