President Bola Tinubu has reportedly declined to receive a special envoy sent by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa as tensions rise over renewed xenophobic attacks against Nigerians living in South Africa.
According to reports, the South African delegation, led by the country’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, arrived in Abuja on July 24 to deliver what officials described as an important message from President Ramaphosa.
However, Nigerian diplomatic sources said the meeting did not take place after the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, advised the Presidency against receiving the delegation at a time when Nigerians continue to face attacks in South Africa.
The minister reportedly maintained that South Africa should first demonstrate concrete commitment to protecting Nigerians and ratify the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Early Warning Mechanism (EWM), signed by both countries in Abuja on October 22 last year.
The agreement was designed to improve cooperation in monitoring security threats, protecting citizens, addressing consular issues, and preventing xenophobic violence through rapid communication between both governments.
Nigerian officials expressed disappointment that Pretoria has yet to ratify the agreement, describing the reasons for the delay as unsatisfactory.
The diplomatic development came shortly after the reported death of a Nigerian, Chika Ibe, in Cape Town during an operation involving members of the South African Police Service.
Community members alleged that Ibe was tortured and fatally assaulted after being taken from his residence in the Parksig Villas Complex in Bellville. A video circulating online reportedly shows scenes that contradict the official police account of the incident.
South African police said officers were carrying out a search operation during which they allegedly recovered an unlicensed firearm and suspected drugs. Authorities claimed Ibe became ill while being arrested.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), the agency responsible for investigating police conduct, confirmed that an investigation has been launched. Preliminary post-mortem findings reportedly revealed that the 42-year-old sustained multiple bruises and abrasions on his back and chest.
The incident has sparked protests among Nigerians living in Cape Town, with members of the community demanding justice and an end to repeated attacks on foreign nationals.
Nigeria has continued to condemn xenophobic violence in South Africa. Speaking recently at the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Sierra Leone, Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Tinubu, urged African leaders to adopt stronger continental measures against xenophobia.
Shettima disclosed that Nigeria had previously evacuated 1,490 citizens affected by xenophobic attacks and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to working with regional and continental institutions to safeguard the rights and dignity of Africans across the continent.
As of the latest reports, President Tinubu had yet to approve a meeting with the South African delegation, while the outcome of an alleged telephone conversation initiated by President Ramaphosa also remained unclear.
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