• Nigerian bishop shot dead
• Aiyedatiwa empowers Ondo returnees with N45m
The leadership of the National Assembly yesterday announced immediate suspension of parliamentary relationship with South Africa in reaction to the recent wave of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in that country.
It deplored “the continuing reports of xenophobic attacks, violence, intimidation, destruction of property and other forms of hostility directed at Nigerians and other African nationals resident in the Republic of South Africa.”
It said it was “particularly concerned by reports of Nigerians being killed, injured, displaced and forced to abandon their businesses, investments, homes and other properties as a result of recurring violent attacks”.
The legislative body noted that despite repeated appeals by the Federal Government of Nigeria and other stakeholders to the South African authorities to take decisive measures to protect Nigerians and other foreign nationals and bring perpetrators of xenophobic violence to justice, reports of such incidents “have continued to emerge.”
The NASS leadership acknowledged the intervention of the Federal Government stakeholders, including efforts to assist affected Nigerians and facilitate the evacuation of Nigerian nationals from South Africa.
Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamaldeen Ogunlana, said in a statement in Abuja yesterday that consequently, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and House of Representatives Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, ordered the suspension of all parliamentary relationship with South Africa till further notice.
Ogunlana said it was to serve as a strong reminder of the lawmakers’ concern for the safety, dignity and welfare of Nigerians living and conducting legitimate businesses in South Africa and not intended to undermine the longstanding historical, diplomatic and people-to-people relations between the two countries.
He asked the government of South Africa to take urgent and concrete measures to protect Nigerians and other African nationals within its territory, prevent further xenophobic attacks, investigate reported incidents thoroughly, arrest suspected perpetrators and ensure that those found culpable are prosecuted in accordance with the law.
He drew the attention of the 36 state legislative arms to the action of the NASS, urging them to consider taking a similar decision while reaffirming the commitment of the National Assembly to the protection of Nigerian citizens abroad and will continue to monitor developments concerning the safety and welfare of Nigerians in South Africa.
The boycott of the South African parliament by Nigeria covers all official visits to South Africa by the National Assembly, its committees, lawmakers, officials and staff; participation in conferences, seminars, workshops, parliamentary meetings, legislative exchanges and other activities organised or hosted by South African legislative authorities; physical participation in South African-hosted legislative programmes; and participation in such programmes through virtual or online platforms.
The action of the National Assembly came on a day another Nigerian , Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle, was shot dead in Johannesburg and the South African authorities extradited to the United States of America six Nigerians accused of romance scam.
Aiyedatiwa empowers Ondo returnees from South Africa with N45m
Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, yesterday donated N1million to each of the 45 citizens of the state who were recently evacuated home from South Africa on account of the xenophobic attacks.
Aiyedatiwa told the returnees to turn their ordeal into an opportunity to rebuild their lives and contribute to the development of the state.
The occasion was an empowerment programme held for them at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office in Akure.
The event was organised by the Ministry of Regional Integration and Diaspora Relations in the state.
Aiyedatiwa said his administration was prepared to support the returnees to rebuild their lives and contribute to the development of their various communities in the state.
The governor said the financial support would enable them restart their businesses and establish sustainable means of livelihood after returning home.
According to him, the intervention was part of his administration’s commitment to supporting vulnerable citizens and ensuring that indigenes forced to return home were not left without assistance.
He specifically noted that the returnees should see their experiences abroad as lessons that could be transformed into opportunities, rather than allowing the ordeal to discourage them.
“Look around, look for opportunities, see the needs and meet the needs. That’s how to make money. There are needs everywhere when you look,” Aiyedatiwa said.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Regional Integration and Diaspora Relations in the State, Hon Wale Akinlosotu, said the reception demonstrated that Ondo State remained home to its people regardless of where they had lived.
Akinlosotu described the event as more than a ceremony, saying the governor’s intervention reflected his commitment to the welfare and dignity of Ondo indigenes.
He commended governor Aiyedatiwa for his ‘magnanimous intervention and compassionate leadership’ after being informed about the plight of the returnees.
The South Africa government yesterday extradited to the US six Nigerians accused of wire fraud and money laundering in an alleged online romance scam.
The group is accused of targeting over 100 women in the US and defrauding them of more than 100m rand ($6m; £5m), the South African authorities said.
The six men were arrested in Cape Town in 2021 and are said to belong to the Black Axe organised criminal network.
They were handed over to officials from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Secret Service at Cape Town International Airport for transportation to the US.
FBI operations against Black Axe were launched in November 2019 and September 2021, eventually charging more than 35 individuals with multi-million dollar internet fraud.
Since then there have been several other operations across multiple countries targeting Black Axe coordinated by the global policing agency INTERPOL.
Last month, INTERPOL said during its latest one – which took place between November 2025 and June 2026 – seven sites in South Africa linked to a syndicate involved in romance and investment scams were raided.
It led to the arrests of 39 people, the seizure of money and the blocking of more than 250 bank accounts.
Nigerian bishop shot dead in South Africa
The Nigerian Citizens Association, South Africa (NICASA) yesterday announced the killing of a Nigerian cleric, Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The National President of the NICASA, Rev Frank Onyekwelu, said the Ekiti State born Fakunle , was killed at his residence in Kensington, Johannesburg.
According to Onyekwelu, two unknown persons got access to the deceased’s home and shot him multiple times.
He explained that NICASA had formally notified the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg and that a murder case had been opened at the Jeppe Police Station.
The NICASA President urged the South African Police Service and Nigerian diplomatic representatives to ensure that a comprehensive probe is carried out to bring those responsible to justice.
“According to the information available to NICASA, two suspects gained access to his residence and opened fire on him, reportedly discharging more than seven bullets.
“This was not merely an ordinary loss of life; it was a horrific and senseless act of violence that has robbed a family of a loved one and the Nigerian community of another precious life,” he said.
Fani-Kayode outraged by latest killings of Nigerians in South Africa
Nigeria’s High Commissioner-Designate to South Africa, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode said last night that he was “mortified and deeply shocked” to hear about the murder of Bishop Michael Taiwo Fakunle by unknown elements in Johannesburg.
Fani-Kayode said on his verified X handle @realFFK that he was equally shocked to hear about the murder of yet another Nigerian James Uchechukwu Nwankwo by officers of the South African Police Service in Johannesburg on September 5.
Nwankwo, according to him, died as a consequence of what has been described as “gruesome interrogation techniques” by the South African police.
He added: “Bishop Fakunle and Mr. Nwankwo are the 7th and 8th Nigerians to have been murdered in South Africa this year alone. No less than four amongst the eight were murdered by South African police officers.
“Outside of that over 100 Nigerian nationals have been murdered in South Africa between 2022 and today and over 30 of them were killed by officers of the South African Police Service and South African Defence Force.
“What is most disturbing is the fact that in spite of our constant expressions of concern about this disturbing state of affairs not one person has been arrested, detained, prosecuted or brought to justice for ANY of these heinous crimes.
“This is unacceptable. We call on the South African Government to do far more to protect our nationals and to bring those that have killed or are planning to kill them to justice.
“No-one deserves to be targeted and murdered simply because they are Nigerian. The Nigerian community in South Africa is deeply disturbed by these developments and live in trepidation of what could happen next. So is the Nigerian Mission in South Africa.
“Equally disturbing is the fact that yet another deadline has been issued to African nationals, including Nigerians, to leave South Africa by September 30th.
“This deadline, like the last one, was issued by a number of brazenly racist, xenophobic and Afrophobic South African Non-Governmental Organisations who have openly threatened to target and harm our nationals if their illegal deadline is not complied with.”
He asked the South African Government to “protect our people from the excesses of these racist organisations and their misguided members and to apply the full weight of the law against them for their lawless behaviour.”
The South African Government, he added, should bring to justice those that “take pleasure in traumatising, terrorising, torturing and killing our nationals.”
Continuing, he said: “Whilst we seek to establish stronger and deeper ties with the South African Government one thing remains clear: if this vicious cycle of discrimination against and killing of our nationals do not stop there will be consequences.
“Simply put, our patience is wearing thin. South Africans are not targeted and killed in Nigeria by our people or our security forces.
“The least the South African Government can do is to reciprocate this gesture, protect our nationals and address our legitimate concerns.”
