Xenophobic attacks in South Africa have resulted in the deaths of at least 105 Nigerians since 2019 [1].
The violence represents a critical breakdown in regional stability and the safety of foreign nationals. A renewed wave of attacks reported this month has sparked demands for stronger diplomatic interventions and economic retaliation from Nigerian leadership.
Community leaders said that 105 Nigerians have been killed in the country over the past seven years [1]. These attacks involve mob violence, looting, and targeted killings of Nigerian nationals living across various South African towns and cities. The violence is driven by deep-seated xenophobic sentiment against foreign nationals [2].
Former Minister Oby Ezekwesili criticized the response of the Nigerian government to the crisis. She said the government must stop treating the killing and attacks on Nigerians in South Africa as routine diplomacy and called for the president to return home [3].
Other officials have proposed more aggressive economic measures to pressure the South African government. Senator Adams Oshiomhole said he wants the nationalization of MTN as a response to the attacks [4]. MTN is a major telecommunications company with significant operations in both nations.
Representatives have demanded urgent diplomatic action to stop the killings [5]. The unrest follows a pattern of violence that has persisted since 2019, targeting Nigerians who are often viewed as competitors or scapegoats for local economic frustrations [6].
“At least 105 Nigerians have been killed in the country over the past seven years.”
The escalation of violence in May 2026 and the subsequent calls for the nationalization of corporate assets indicate that the crisis is moving beyond a humanitarian issue into a diplomatic and economic conflict. If Nigeria pursues economic retaliation against South African-linked firms, it could destabilize trade relations between the two largest economies in Africa.
