Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Nigerian Union in South Africa has issued a passionate and urgent call for justice following the brutal killing of a 40-year-old Nigerian father of two, Olatunde Olaleye, who was shot dead while working at a bar in Mamelodi, Pretoria, on September 21, 2026. The union described the killing as yet another devastating loss for a community already traumatised by a relentless wave of violence, and demanded a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. Olaleye, an indigene of Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti State, was reportedly shot by a South African national following an argument over whether a drinking glass should be taken outside the bar where he worked. According to reports, the suspect allegedly left the premises, returned later, and threatened the management before opening fire.
The President-General of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, Mr Smart Nwobi, confirmed the details of the killing in a statement issued on Thursday, September 24, 2026, expressing the union's profound grief and outrage. He said Olaleye was a hardworking husband and father whose death had left his family and the Nigerian community in South Africa completely devastated. "We cannot continue to lose Nigerians under circumstances that leave families devastated and communities traumatised," Nwobi declared. "We call for a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding Olaleye's death and for the law to take its proper course."
The union's demand for justice is not an isolated plea. It is the latest cry from a community that has watched its members being killed with alarming frequency and near-total impunity. According to Nigeria's ambassador-designate to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, Olaleye is at least the eighth Nigerian to be murdered in South Africa in 2026 alone. Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, has stated that more than 100 Nigerian nationals have been killed in South Africa between 2022 and 2026, with over 30 of those deaths attributed to officers of the South African Police Service and the South African Defence Force. He has repeatedly expressed frustration that "not one person has been arrested, detained, prosecuted or brought to justice for any of these heinous crimes."
The pattern of violence against Nigerians in South Africa is a persistent and deeply troubling feature of the bilateral relationship between Africa's two largest economies. Just weeks before Olaleye's killing, two other Nigerians—Bishop Michael Taiwo Fakunle and Mr James Uchechukwu Nwankwo—were killed in separate incidents in Johannesburg. Bishop Fakunle was shot dead at his home on September 4 after reportedly receiving a series of threats, while Nwankwo died on September 5 following what was described as "gruesome interrogation techniques" allegedly used by South African police officers. The killings sparked outrage across Nigeria and prompted the National Assembly to suspend all official visits to South Africa and direct its members to boycott legislative activities hosted by South African authorities. The South African government, through its Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, said it had not received official communication on the boycott and expressed a willingness to engage with Nigeria over the killings.
The Nigerian government has also intensified its diplomatic efforts. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has said the Federal Government cannot remain silent over the "harassment, humiliation and extrajudicial killings of Nigerians in South Africa." The government has demanded thorough investigations and the prosecution of those responsible for the killings. The diplomatic pressure has been mounting, with Nigeria warning that "all options remain on the table" if the attacks on its citizens continue. However, for the families of the victims, diplomatic statements and warnings offer little comfort. They want arrests, prosecutions, and convictions. They want to see the people who killed their loved ones face the full weight of the law.
The killing of Olatunde Olaleye has once again laid bare the vulnerability of Nigerian migrants in South Africa. Many Nigerians live and work in the country, contributing to its economy and society, yet they are frequently targeted for violence, extortion, and xenophobic attacks. The argument over a drinking glass that allegedly led to Olaleye's death is a chilling reminder of how trivial disputes can escalate into deadly violence when they involve Nigerians in South Africa. The Nigerian Union in South Africa has urged the Nigerian Mission in South Africa, comprising the Consulate-General's Office and the High Commission in Pretoria, to intensify engagement with South African authorities over the incident. The union has also called on the mission to explore all available diplomatic channels to address the matter and strengthen protection for Nigerians living in the country.
For Olaleye's wife and two children, the loss is immeasurable. They have lost a husband and a father to a senseless act of violence that should never have happened. For the Nigerian community in South Africa, his death is a painful reminder that they are not safe, that their lives are valued less, and that justice is elusive. The union has expressed its solidarity with Olaleye's family and the wider Nigerian community, praying for the repose of his soul and reiterating its call for justice and accountability. As the investigation into his killing begins, the Nigerian people will be watching closely. They will be watching to see whether the South African authorities take this case seriously, whether the suspect is arrested and prosecuted, and whether this killing will be the one that finally breaks the cycle of impunity. The question is no longer whether another Nigerian will be killed in South Africa, but whether anyone will ever be held accountable. For Olatunde Olaleye, his family, and the thousands of Nigerians who call South Africa home, the answer cannot come soon enough.
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