The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has issued an urgent appeal to the South African government to protect Nigerian citizens and other black immigrants following a resurgence of anti-foreigner sentiment and violence in several parts of the country.
According to Vanguard News, the Commission’s Chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, expressed deep concern on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, over the deteriorating situation, noting that earlier diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions have not yet yielded the desired results on the ground. The call for protection comes as reports emerge of worsening harassment, intimidation, and targeted attacks against African migrants.
Reports from The ICIR indicate that the unrest has been particularly concentrated in East London, Cape Town, Durban, and parts of KwaZulu-Natal, where anti-foreigner protests have reportedly escalated into looting and the destruction of property.
It was further reported that the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg has confirmed the tragic deaths of two Nigerian citizens, identified as Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew, amid the escalating tensions. These incidents have sparked widespread fear, with NiDCOM highlighting that children of Nigerian descent are now afraid to attend school, while many business owners have been forced to shut their shops to avoid being targeted by mobs.
The commission has also taken a firm stance against the collective profiling of Nigerians. According to Punch Newspapers, Dabiri-Erewa emphasized that “crime has no nationality” and insisted that individual criminal acts should not be used to stigmatize an entire community.
To address the crisis, NiDCOM has proposed several immediate measures, including increased police patrols in high-risk areas and the establishment of a joint Nigeria-South Africa community safety forum.
As noted by TVC News, the Nigerian government, through the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, is currently engaged in high-level diplomatic talks with South African authorities to ensure the safety and dignity of Nigerians living in the country.
