Nigeria’s government says two Nigerian nationals were killed in South Africa during or around violent anti-immigrant demonstrations. Multiple outlets report that Nigeria made the statement in a Sunday update, linking the deaths to protests that target African workers and reflect rising xenophobia. Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry says the killings occurred on 28 June, two days before an unofficial deadline announced by protesters for foreigners to leave the country. Several reports also describe the protests as sometimes violent and occurring amid broader anti-migrant attacks.
One strand of reporting, attributed to Nigeria, adds that one of the victims was allegedly killed by police officers, with BBC reporting Nigeria described the circumstances as involving “gruesome interrogation techniques.” Other accounts focus on the deaths themselves and the protests’ intent and timing, without adding further details about the perpetrators. Across coverage, the common element is Nigeria’s claim of two deaths of its citizens tied to the anti-migrant protest period in South Africa.
