It has gone beyond protests and harassment. Two Nigerians are now dead. Businesses are shut. And the Nigerian government has stepped in with a dramatic offer — free flights home for any Nigerian willing to leave South Africa permanently.
GossipShop brings you everything you need to know right now.
Two Nigerians Killed
The situation in South Africa has taken a deadly turn. The Nigerian Consulate General in Johannesburg has confirmed that two Nigerian nationals lost their lives in separate attacks linked to the ongoing anti-foreigner violence.
The victims have been identified as Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew — both killed amid the chaos sweeping through South African cities.
Their deaths have sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s diaspora community and intensified urgent calls for government intervention and stronger protection measures for Nigerians still living in South Africa.
Free Flights Home — Here is What We Know
The Nigerian Consulate in South Africa, working in partnership with the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), has announced a free repatriation programme for Nigerians who have decided to permanently return home.
NICASA President Frank Onyekwelu confirmed that the programme is already underway, with many Nigerians expressing strong interest in taking up the offer.
According to Onyekwelu, the free flight arrangement is specifically for Nigerians who have made the decision to permanently relocate back to Nigeria — not a temporary evacuation. The level of fear and uncertainty among the Nigerian community in South Africa is being described as extremely high, with many saying they can no longer continue their lives there.
What NiDCOM Said
Before the repatriation announcement, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) had already issued a strong advisory to Nigerian business owners in South Africa — urging them to temporarily suspend operations to minimise losses and protect lives amid the escalating violence.
NiDCOM also advised all Nigerians in South Africa to:
- Obey local laws at all times
- Avoid protest zones
- Stay informed through reliable news updates
- Contact the Nigerian Consulate immediately if threatened or attacked
Who is Behind the Violence?
Three main groups are driving the anti-foreigner campaigns sweeping across South Africa:
Operation Dudula — meaning “push back” in Zulu — has been at the forefront of confronting migrants, blocking them from accessing public hospitals, clinics and schools despite these being constitutional rights guaranteed to all residents under South African law.
March and March Movement has been running campaigns across Durban for nearly two weeks — ranging from peaceful street cleaning activities to violent confrontations, “citizen arrests” of undocumented immigrants and forced closure of foreign-owned businesses.
Other local anti-immigration groups are now planning a national shutdown on May 4, 2026 targeting all foreign nationals across the country. One chilling message circulating online from one of these groups reads: “We want all foreigners, documented or not, out of this country.”
Documented or not. This is no longer about illegal immigration. This is about Africans being unwelcome in Africa.
Businesses Shut Across Multiple Cities
The unrest has spread across major South African cities including Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, East London and parts of KwaZulu-Natal.
Nigerian-owned shops and businesses across these cities have been forced to close temporarily. Foreign-owned businesses have faced looting, vandalism and physical attacks. In Durban’s Bertha Mkhize Street alone, at least 50 businesses were shuttered during one of the worst days of the campaign.
One Ethiopian business owner — who asked to remain anonymous — employs over 400 people. His shops were forced to shut completely. “Who’s going to feed these people?” he asked.
For Nigerian business owners the situation is no different. Years of hard work, savings and sacrifice — all threatened by a mob that blames them for problems created by a failing government.
No Financial Support Yet
While the free repatriation flights offer a way out for those who want to leave, NICASA President Onyekwelu admitted that there is currently no structured financial support system in place for Nigerians whose businesses or properties have been damaged or destroyed during the violence.
This means Nigerians who have lost their livelihoods in South Africa will be returning home with nothing — after years of building businesses and lives in a country that has now turned against them.
The Nigerian government needs to go beyond flights. Returning Nigerians need reintegration support, startup funds and a plan for rebuilding their lives back home.
Nigeria and Ghana Fight Back Diplomatically
Both Nigeria and Ghana have now elevated this matter to diplomatic level.
Ghana summoned South Africa’s acting High Commissioner to formally protest the harassment and attacks targeting Ghanaian nationals. Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister reminded Pretoria of Ghana’s historical support during South Africa’s own anti-Apartheid struggle — calling the attacks a direct “betrayal of African solidarity.”
South Africa’s Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia responded by stating that only the government has the legal authority to enforce immigration laws and assured that police would respond decisively to any xenophobic violence or looting.
Words so far — without enough action on the ground where Nigerians and other Africans are still being attacked.
The Bitter Irony
South Africa celebrates itself as a nation born from the struggle against Apartheid — a system that told Black people they did not belong in their own country based purely on race and origin.
Today, that same logic is being applied to Nigerian and African immigrants on the streets of Johannesburg, Durban and East London. The country that the entire world helped to free is now making other Africans feel like unwelcome strangers.
During South Africa’s darkest days under Apartheid, Nigeria was one of its loudest and most consistent defenders. Nigeria broke diplomatic ties with South Africa, supported the ANC and gave sanctuary to anti-Apartheid activists.
That history means nothing to the mobs burning Nigerian shops today.
Practical Advice for Nigerians in South Africa Right Now
If you are Nigerian and currently living in South Africa, here is urgent practical advice:
- ⚠️ Consider the free repatriation offer — contact NICASA or the Nigerian Consulate General in Johannesburg if you wish to return home
- ⚠️ Keep all documents on you at all times — passport, permit, work visa, residency papers
- ⚠️ Avoid all protest zones — Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Johannesburg inner city and Durban are high risk right now
- ⚠️ Do not engage with any anti-immigrant groups or vigilantes under any circumstances
- ⚠️ Temporarily close your business if you have not already done so — your life is worth more than any stock or inventory
- ⚠️ Mark May 4 on your calendar — a national shutdown has been announced and tensions will be extremely high that day
- ⚠️ Stay connected — join Nigerian community WhatsApp groups in your area to stay informed of safety updates in real time
What Happens Next
The situation is expected to intensify around May 4, 2026 when anti-immigrant groups have announced their national shutdown. The South African government has promised a strong police response but Nigerian community leaders are not confident that will be enough.
GossipShop will be monitoring this story closely and will update you as events develop.
If you are a Nigerian in South Africa with a story to share — send us a message. Your experience matters and the world needs to hear it.
GossipShop Verdict
Two Nigerians are dead. Hundreds of businesses are shut. Thousands are living in fear. A national shutdown is planned for May 4. And the only practical help on offer is a flight home.
This is no longer a xenophobia story. This is a full blown crisis — and Nigeria’s diaspora community in South Africa deserves better than a one-way ticket and a goodbye.
GossipShop will keep reporting the truth. Stay safe. Stay informed. And stay connected.
