Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Prominent human rights lawyer and Special Adviser to the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, Aloy Ejimakor, has issued a fiery call to President Bola Tinubu, demanding that he deliver a stern diplomatic ultimatum to the South African government over the escalating wave of xenophobic attacks against Nigerian citizens. Ejimakor warned that there would be "hell to pay" if any Nigerian life is lost to a South African mob, invoking the continent's collective sacrifice in the fight against apartheid to shame the perpetrators of what he described as "Afrophobia."
In a strongly worded statement shared on his X account on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, Ejimakor addressed black South Africans directly, particularly the Zulu ethnic group, accusing them of betraying the solidarity that helped end apartheid. "Dear black South Africans, especially the Zulu: This your #afrophobia against your fellow blacks is very shameful," he wrote. He reminded them that South Africa was the only country in the world that the entire black African continent united to liberate, adding that nations like Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Tanzania paid a heavy price in blood and resources for that freedom.
Recalling the sacrifices made during the anti-apartheid struggle, Ejimakor noted that Nelson Mandela lived in Nigeria, as did Thabo Mbeki, both at the expense of Nigerians who also donated millions of dollars and nationalised British corporations in solidarity with the struggle. He further stressed that frontline states paid with the blood of their men who fought and died for South Africa's liberation. The lawyer argued that the recent attacks have attracted global ridicule and triggered "buyers remorse" among Africans who sacrificed so much to free South Africa from apartheid. He warned that the violence was also reinforcing negative stereotypes historically used to justify racial oppression, asking rhetorically if the attacks were giving "minority whites some cold comfort that they were probably right in treating you as savages."
Ejimakor also appealed directly to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, urging him to take swift and decisive action to stop the violence. "The rest of black Africa is watching closely and asking how fast you can step up and stop this terrible situation. The buck stops at your table," he declared. In a direct appeal to President Tinubu, Ejimakor wrote: "I urge you to issue the strongest warning to the South African government that there will be hell to pay for any Nigerian lost to a South African mob."
Describing the attacks as "un-black, inhuman, and bordering on savagery," Ejimakor urged the Nigerian government to move beyond mere condemnation and adopt a more assertive diplomatic posture to protect the lives and dignity of Nigerians abroad. His statement comes amid ongoing reports of xenophobic violence against Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa, with the Federal Government making arrangements to evacuate citizens from the country. The tension between both nations has escalated in recent weeks, with Nigeria evacuating hundreds of its citizens from South Africa following fears of targeted attacks and the issuance of ultimatums by anti-foreigner groups.
As the diplomatic standoff intensifies, Ejimakor's warning has added a powerful moral and historical dimension to the debate, challenging South Africa to honour the legacy of those who fought for its freedom and reminding Nigeria's leadership of its duty to protect its citizens wherever they may be.
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