Femi Fani-Kayode has called on the South African government to protect Nigerian citizens amid reports of violence and discrimination. He referenced the play Julius Caesar to illustrate the pain of betrayal, likening the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa to Caesar's stabbing by Brutus, his trusted protégé. According to the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg, two Nigerians—Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpeyong Andrew—have been killed in recent xenophobic attacks.
Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, Consul-General of the Nigerian Embassy in South Africa, stated that Emmanuel died from injuries sustained after being beaten by members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) on 20 April. Fani-Kayode condemned the attacks, saying Nigerian children are being denied school access, patients expelled from hospitals, and businesses ransacked. He described scenes of Nigerian men, women and children being beaten, mocked and stripped in public, with some mobs targeting African immigrant women even as they prayed with Bibles.
Video evidence shows South African men brandishing spears and singing war songs while chasing black African immigrants, including Nigerians. Fani-Kayode noted that Nigeria supported the anti-apartheid struggle, citing President Olusegun Obasanjo's nationalisation of British Petroleum to pressure Britain over its stance on South Africa. He recalled that Nelson Mandela visited Nigeria to express gratitude for this support after his release from prison.
Femi Fani-Kayode frames the violence against Nigerians in South Africa as a betrayal, yet offers no call for concrete action from Nigeria's government. He highlights historical sacrifices made for South Africa's freedom while acknowledging the deaths of Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpeyong Andrew. The emotional appeal relies heavily on literary metaphor rather than diplomatic or policy response. Nigerians affected by the attacks remain without official protection or repatriation plans.
💡 NaijaBuzz Take is AI-assisted editorial opinion, not established fact. Full disclaimer →
