The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has strongly condemned the killing of two Nigerian traders in Durban, South Africa, describing the act as senseless and barbaric.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the Commission’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols.
According to Dabiri-Erewa, the two victims, identified simply as Austin and Ayo, were reportedly shot at close range by masked assailants in Austin’s office. Both men were confirmed dead on the spot.
The Commission noted that the motive for the attack remains unclear, and the identities of the gunmen are yet to be determined.
Describing the attack as “intolerable and senseless,” Dabiri-Erewa called on South African authorities to launch a thorough investigation into the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice.
She expressed deep concern over the continuous targeting of Nigerians living in South Africa, noting that such attacks undermine diplomatic relations and the safety of law-abiding citizens.
She recalled that an early warning mechanism had been agreed upon by both Nigeria and South Africa in the wake of past xenophobic tensions, but regretted that the system is yet to be fully implemented by the South African government.
Dabiri-Erewa condoled with the families of the victims, assuring them that the Nigerian government would not relent in demanding justice.
She also urged members of the Nigerian community in South Africa to remain calm and refrain from taking the law into their own hands, even as tensions rise within the diaspora community following the latest killings.
“The Acting Nigerian High Commissioner in South Africa has officially demanded a transparent and comprehensive investigation from the South African police authorities,” she added.
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