Nigeria has halted official parliamentary travel to South Africa and demanded immediate, transparent investigations after two Nigerian nationals died in separate incidents in early September. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs set out the position in a statement dated Friday, September 11, 2026, signed by spokesperson Oluwafemi Adeniyi, and framed the moves as measures to protect citizens and secure accountability.
The ministry named the dead as Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle, who was killed at his home in Kensington, Johannesburg, on September 4, and James Uchechukwu Nwankwo, who died in Somerset, Cape Town, on September 5. The statement said Nwankwo’s death followed what it described as "gruesome interrogation techniques" by officers of the South African Police Service. Nigeria demanded that those responsible be identified and prosecuted in line with the law.
Beyond the diplomatic note, the National Assembly took immediate domestic action. Parliament suspended all official visits to South Africa and directed lawmakers, committees, officials and staff to avoid any South African-hosted or organised legislative engagements until further notice. The suspension removes routine legislative exchanges as a channel of bilateral contact while probes proceed.
The ministry also pointed to an existing Memorandum of Understanding that establishes an Early Warning Mechanism intended to prevent or contain violence against foreigners. Nigeria said it has signed the agreement, while South Africa has not yet completed its signature, a detail the ministry flagged as relevant to preventing future incidents.
Meanwhile the government has been assisting returns for Nigerians affected by unrest. To date 1,640 people have been repatriated, with the Federal Government funding 1,385 evacuations and philanthropic efforts covering the remaining 255. The ministry offered condolences to the families, friends and the wider Nigerian community in South Africa and repeated its demand for thorough and expeditious probes into both deaths.
The combination of formal diplomatic protests, parliamentary measures and ongoing evacuations signals sustained pressure from Abuja for accountability and safety guarantees for its citizens abroad. The ministry’s statement leaves the next steps contingent on how promptly and transparently South African authorities investigate the two deaths and address the alleged involvement of law enforcement.
