Coalition Calls for End to Killing of Nigerians in South Africa
COALITION OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS
Led by Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance CACOBAG
In Alliance with Gani Fawehinmi Movement for a New Nigeria GFMNN & Campaign for Constitutionalism and Human Rights CCHR
18th September, 2026
Prof. Bobby Moroe,
The Consul-General,
Consulate General of the Republic of South Africa,
Heritage Place, 21 Lugard Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Dear Sir,
AN OPEN PROTEST LETTER: STOP KILLING OF NIGERIANS IN SOUTH AFRICA
Your Excellency,
We, the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations led by Coalition Against Corruption and Bad Governance CACOBAG, Gani Fawehinmi Movement for a New Nigeria GFMNN and Campaign for Constitutionalism and Human Rights CCHR write to register our deepest outrage over the continued killing of Nigerians in South Africa.
We say with one voice:
1. STOP KILLING NIGERIANS IN SOUTH AFRICA!
2. NIGERIAN LIVES MATTER!
3. XENOPHOBIA IS A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY!
4. SOUTH AFRICA, PROTECT NIGERIANS!
5. WE DEMAND JUSTICE FOR SLAIN NIGERIANS!
6. NO MORE BLOODSHED – STOP XENOPHOBIA NOW!
7. FEDERAL GOVT MUST ACT NOW!
8. AFRICA MUST BE SAFE FOR AFRICANS!
9. NIGERIA IS A PEACE-LOVING NATION THAT ACCOMMODATES ALL NATIONALITIES, BUT OUR HOSPITALITY MUST NOT BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED!
10. WE ARE A PEACE-LOVING PEOPLE, BUT WE WILL NOT TOLERATE THE KILLING OF OUR CITIZENS!
11. NIGERIA WELCOMES THE WORLD, BUT DO NOT TAKE OUR PEACE FOR WEAKNESS!
12. OUR HOSPITALITY IS NOT FOOLISHNESS – STOP KILLING NIGERIANS!
THE LATEST KILLINGS:
We refer to the confirmation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and by our own High Commissioner-Designate, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, that:
1. Bishop Michael Taiwo Fakunle was murdered in his residence in Kensington, Johannesburg on 4th September, 2026 after receiving threats.
2. Mr. James Uchechukwu Nwankwo was killed on 5th September, 2026 during gruesome interrogation techniques by SAPS officers in Somerset, Cape Town.
According to Chief Fani-Kayode, these are the 7th and 8th Nigerians murdered in South Africa in 2026 alone, with over 100 killed since 2022 and over 30 allegedly killed by SAPS and SANDF. Not one person has been arrested or prosecuted. Earlier in April 2026, Nnaemeka Matthew Andrew Ekpeyong and Kelvin Chidiebere Amaramiro were also killed in custody of South African security forces.
We must remind South Africa that Nigeria gave everything to end apartheid – over $61 billion in today’s value, nationalization of BP in 1979, scholarships for South African students, provision of passports and platforms for ANC leaders, and leading the global boycott campaign at the UN, Commonwealth and OAU. Nigeria is the Giant of Africa not by mouth, but by sacrifice.
THIS IS A CRIME UNDER INTERNATIONAL LAW:
The xenophobic killing of Nigerians violates Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Article 3 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 6 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 5(b) of ICERD, and Article 36 of Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Xenophobic targeted killing is a Crime Against Humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute.
If you fail to act, we shall not hesitate to approach the International Criminal Court ICC – The Hague, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Arusha, the ECOWAS Court of Justice, and the International Court of Justice ICJ for justice and adequate reparation.
OUR DEMANDS:
i. Investigate, apprehend and prosecute killers of Bishop Fakunle, James Nwankwo, Ekpeyong and Amaramiro.
ii. Pay adequate compensation to their families.
iii. Guarantee safety, dignity and rights of all Nigerians in South Africa.
iv. Sign and implement the Early Warning MoU agreed with Nigeria.
We as Nigerians are proud to be Nigerians and under no circumstances shall we allow our citizens to be treated as second class human beings anywhere in the world.
An injury to one Nigerian is an injury to all Nigerians.
Yours faithfully,
Toyin Raheem Prince
For: CACOBAG – 08023407814
Princess Osarieme
For: GFMNN – 08035175879
Comrade Idowu Taiwo
For: CCHR – 08057877496
Cc:
1. His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa, President, Republic of South Africa
2. Hon. Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, DIRCO, Pretoria
3. South African High Commission, Abuja
4. His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
5. Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to the President
6. Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria
7. Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, High Commissioner-Designate to South Africa
8. Chairman/CEO, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM)
9. African Union Commission – Chairperson
10. ECOWAS Commission
