…. boycott South African-hosted or organised legislative activities, engagements
By Ifeanyi Onuoha
In the continued heated situation surrounding the Afrophobic attack on fellow African citizens living in South Africa, the Nigerian National Assembly (NASS) has suspended all official visits to South Africa and announced a boycott of South African-hosted legislative activities over continuing reports of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals in the country.
The decision followed consultations between the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives, made known by the Clerk to the House, Kamoru Ogunlana, on Friday.
NASS leadership expressed concern over reports of violence, intimidation, destruction of property and other forms of hostility directed at Nigerians and other African nationals resident in South Africa, citing continued killings, displacement and forceful to abandonment of businesses, investments, homes and other properties as a result of recurring attacks.
NASS lamented that despite repeated appeals by the Nigerian government and other stakeholders to South African authorities to take decisive steps to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals and prosecute perpetrators, reports of such incidents had continued to emerge.
The National Assembly however took decisions that include official visits by lawmakers, National Assembly committees, officials and staff, as well as participation in conferences, seminars, workshops, parliamentary meetings, legislative exchanges and other programmes organised or hosted by South African legislative authorities.
The National Assembly, however, stressed that the decision was not aimed at undermining the longstanding historical, diplomatic and people-to-people relations between Nigeria and South Africa, but said, it was a strong expression of concern over the safety, dignity and welfare of Nigerians living and conducting legitimate businesses in South Africa.
The federal lawmakers called on the South African government to take urgent and concrete measures to protect Nigerians and other African nationals within its territory and prevent further xenophobic attacks.
Meanwhile, prior to this, incident of killing of innocent and legitimate citizens of Nigerians living in South Africa emerged as a 58-year-old Nigerian bishop was reported killed in Johannesburg, South Africa on September 4, 2026.
In a statement released by the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa, NICASA, the group alleged the killing of a 58-year-old Nigerian cleric, Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle, in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Fakunle, an indigene of Iye, Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, was allegedly killed on Friday, September 4, 2026, at his residence in Kensington, Johannesburg.
Mentioning this, the National President of NICASA, Rev. Frank Onyekwelu, said the circumstances surrounding the cleric’s death had left his family, friends and members of the Nigerian community devastated.
According to him, two suspects allegedly gained access to Fakunle’s residence and opened fire on him, reportedly shooting him more than seven times.
Describing the incident as a “horrific and senseless act of violence,” Onyekwelu condemned the killing and expressed concern over the continued loss of Nigerian lives to violent crime in South Africa.
He called on the South African Police Service, SAPS, and other relevant authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the killing.
