Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, has condemned the killing of two Nigerians in Johannesburg, warning that the latest incidents have heightened fears among Nigerians living in the country.

Fani-Kayode, in a post on his official X account on Friday, identified the victims as Bishop Michael Taiwo Fakunle and James Uchechukwu Nwankwo.

He said Fakunle was murdered at his home in Johannesburg on September 4, after allegedly receiving a series of threats from his attackers.

“I am mortified and deeply shocked to hear about the murder of Bishop Michael Taiwo Fakunle by unknown elements in Johannesburg on September 4th.”

Fani-Kayode said Nwankwo died the following day in an incident involving officers of the South African Police Service, alleging that he was subjected to what he described as “gruesome interrogation techniques”.

He said the two deaths had taken the number of Nigerians allegedly killed in South Africa this year to eight, with four of the cases involving South African police officers.

Fani-Kayode further claimed that more than 100 Nigerian nationals had been murdered in South Africa between 2022 and this year, including more than 30 allegedly killed by personnel of the South African Police Service and South African Defence Force.

The envoy said the absence of arrests and prosecutions in the cases was particularly disturbing, given the repeated concerns raised by the Nigerian Mission.

He called on the South African Government to strengthen the protection of Nigerians and ensure that those responsible for attacks against them are brought to justice.

“No-one deserves to be targetted and murdered simply because they are Nigerian,” Fani-Kayode said.

The envoy also raised concern over a fresh September 30 deadline reportedly issued by some South African organisations demanding that African nationals, including Nigerians, leave the country.

He accused the groups behind the ultimatum of using xenophobic and Afrophobic rhetoric and said their threats had increased anxiety within the Nigerian community.

He urged Pretoria to protect Nigerians from such groups and prosecute anyone who threatens or attacks foreign nationals.

The ambassador also warned that continued killings and discrimination could affect relations between Nigeria and South Africa, despite efforts to strengthen ties between both countries.

“Simply put our patience is wearing thin. The least the South African Government can do is to reciprocate this gesture, protect our nationals and address our legitimate concerns,” he noted.

Fani-Kayode ended his statement by expressing condolences to the families and associates of Fakunle and Nwankwo.

The latest killings come amid renewed anti-immigrant tensions in South Africa, where Nigerian and other African nationals have faced violence, intimidation and displacement.

The Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA) has separately called for a thorough investigation into Fakunle’s killing, saying he was shot at his residence in Johannesburg on September 4.

The wider tensions have also triggered a stronger response from Nigeria.

On Friday, the National Assembly suspended official visits to South Africa and directed lawmakers and legislative officials to boycott South African-hosted legislative activities until further notice over continuing reports of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals.

The parliamentary action followed months of renewed anti-migrant agitation in South Africa, where foreign nationals have been accused by some groups of contributing to unemployment, crime and pressure on public services.