Nigeria Reports Two Citizens Killed in South Africa Anti-Migrant Unrest

Nigeria's government said on Sunday that two of its citizens were killed last month in South Africa during violent demonstrations against migrants that have targeted African workers.

The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said both men died on 28 June, two days before protesters issued an informal deadline for foreigners to leave the country. Officials stated that one victim was allegedly killed by police officers and the other by unidentified attackers.

The Associated Press asked South African police for comment, but received no immediate response.

In April and May, anti-immigrant demonstrators blamed foreigners for high unemployment, crime, and pressure on public services. The unrest and attacks on Africans led Nigeria, Ghana, and Malawi to repatriate their nationals and summon South African diplomats.

"These two killings come at a time when foreigners are being unduly targeted in South Africa. This raises questions about deliberate attempt by some elements to wrongfully generalise and tag well-meaning, hard-working, and respectable Nigerians as criminals," Nigerian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa said.

South Africa has a long record of violence driven by hostility toward migrants. In 2008, more than 60 people were killed in attacks on foreigners that international rights groups described as xenophobic.