The spokesperson for the Nigeria Union South Africa (NUSA), Akindele Olunloyo, has alleged that South African security personnel, including the police and soldiers, extrajudicially kill Nigerians and other African migrants in the Southern African country.
Olunloyo dismissed widespread reports that Nigerians killed in South Africa, particularly two Nigerians killed in April 2026, were victims of xenophobic attacks, insisting instead that the deaths of both victims, Ekmeyong Andrew and Aramiru Emmanuel, were linked to South African security personnel.
Speaking during an exclusive interview with SaharaReporters, Olunloyo said that although anti-foreigner protesters have been ravaging parts of South Africa this year, as usual, no Nigerian was directly killed during those demonstrations.
According to him, the deaths of Ekmeyong Andrew and Aramiru Emmanuel were separate incidents allegedly involving law enforcement officers and members of the South African National Defence Force.
“It is important to put the record straight. No Nigerian, and I’m saying it again very clearly, no Nigerian was killed in xenophobic protests in South Africa this year,” Olunloyo said.
“However, it is important to state that those protests were violent.”
Allegations Of Police Involvement In Death Of Ekmeyong Andrew
He explained that Andrew was arrested in Pretoria on April 19, 2026, after an alleged altercation with about 20 metropolitan law enforcement officials.
According to him, the security officers searched Andrew and later raided his residence, but allegedly found nothing incriminating.
“Unfortunately, the following day, on the 20th of April, when they couldn’t find anything to incriminate the gentleman, he was found at the Pretoria Central Mortuary. He was dead. It is alleged that the 20 Metropolis officials killed him,” Olunloyo said.
‘Soldiers Beat Him To Death’ –Second Nigerian Death Alleged
He added that Emmanuel suffered a similar fate after being arrested by members of the South African National Defence Force.
“For Aramiru Emmanuel, he was also arrested by members of the South African National Defence Force.
“Unfortunately, Emmanuel died from injuries sustained after he was seriously beaten by the soldiers on the 20th of April as well,” Olunloyo told SaharaReporters.
Olunloyo described the incidents as evidence of a troubling pattern involving Nigerian nationals and South African security agencies.
“What makes this case particularly alarming is the involvement of South African security personnel, which raises very serious questions about institutional complicity. You feel like the state also commits extrajudicial killings of Nigerians,” he said.
NUSA Laments Lack of Justice
The NUSA spokesperson further alleged that several cases involving Nigerians killed by security operatives have been reported to South Africa’s Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), but lamented the lack of convictions.
“As a matter of fact, several facts are flying around where we have seen figures about Nigerians being killed by law enforcement officials almost every year. It is very alarming. It is unacceptable. It is not right. These are the realities,” he said.
“Most of these cases have been reported to the police watchdog in South Africa, but unfortunately, we haven’t seen anyone being convicted, which makes it not motivating. Justice needs to be seen to be done, not said to be done.”
Xenophobia ‘Not A Crime’ In South Africa
Olunloyo noted that while xenophobia remains a major problem in South Africa, the law itself does not criminalise xenophobic beliefs.
“Xenophobia is not a crime in South Africa. To be xenophobic is not a crime,” he said.
“What is considered as criminal are the things or actions that a person takes; that is, whatever you do as a function of those xenophobic tendencies.”
He nevertheless maintained that anti-migrant sentiments remain deeply rooted in South African society and have contributed to widespread hostility against foreign nationals.
Pattern Of Violence Against Nigerians Since Apartheid Era
According to him, xenophobic violence dates back to the period immediately after apartheid ended in 1994, with major outbreaks recorded in 2008, 2015, and 2019.
The NUSA spokesperson also cited figures previously released by Nigerian authorities indicating that 116 Nigerians were killed in South Africa between 2016 and 2017.
“The statistics are very shocking. We have heard them from the Nigerian government, mostly from Nigerian officials, and I strongly believe that some of these reports are likely underreported,” he said.
He recalled, “In 2016, we had a case when the Nigerian government stated that 116 Nigerians were killed in South Africa between 2016 and 2017. That is approximately one Nigerian death per week in South Africa. That is heartbreaking.”
Olunloyo told SaharaReporters, “Even more disturbing, one of Nigeria’s senior special advisers on foreign affairs once also stated that 16% of the 116 Nigerians who were killed between 2016 and 2017 were killed by police officials in South Africa.
“At least 16% of those 116 Nigerians were killed by law enforcement officials. Some of the specific documented cases would be in 2018, when we saw about five Nigerians who were killed in separate incidents – Martin Ebuzoeme, Uzumba Tochuku Lawrence, Francis Uchuba, and Chidi Ibebuike. We issue statements when those things happen, and the communities reach out to us.
“Also, part of the brutalities that we encountered in 2016 was the police killings of Tochuku Nnaji, Kingsley Ikeriwaz in 2017, as well as Clement Ofuma. These specific cases involved suffocation during interrogation.”
Olunloyo lamented that the situation is very sad because “these were apartheid practices of forcing confessions out of suspects.”
“When they want to force you to say certain things during interrogation, they apply excessive force,” he said.
“That happens a lot. It was what happened to Andrew as well in April 2026. The worst one, I think, was the May 2008 riots, which claimed about 62 lives across South Africa.”
Olunloyo recalled that after the September 2019 riots, “over 640 Nigerians signed up for free evacuation flights back to Nigeria. These are some of the figures that I have, but every year we record casualties.”
‘About Five Nigerians Killed This Year’
He also pointed out that a lot of deaths also go unreported, revealing, “This year alone, we have seen about five or six. Don’t forget the Uber driver who was killed by three student passengers.
“During that time, as well, we saw another one that was killed by Kumalo, which is another vigilante group.
“Even though it was a television crew, he was shot at close range while the guy was in his car. There was another one in Kumalanga who was killed. We issued a statement regarding that as well.
“I can authoritatively tell you that between the first five months of this year, we had five casualties. There are others that are not reported, but the ones that we are aware of are at least five.”
Olunloyo called for greater accountability from South African authorities and urged both governments to work together to protect Nigerian citizens residing in the country.