Nigeria may take action against South Africa after a new wave of attacks on Nigerians and other Black African migrants, Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Monday.
Briefing State House reporters at the Presidential Villa on June 8, 2026, Ojukwu said Nigeria is deeply disappointed by the violence and by South Africa’s poor response. She called the targeting of Black African migrants troubling, adding that the attacks cut deeper because Nigeria supported South Africa’s fight to end apartheid.
The minister blamed South African security agencies for failing to protect foreigners. “Nigeria is deeply disappointed by the response of South African authorities and security agencies to the attacks,” she said. As tension rises, she confirmed that Nigeria is finalizing plans to fly stranded citizens home. President Bola Tinubu has approved the use of a presidential aircraft for the evacuation.
Ojukwu also dismissed claims by some South African officials that the Nigerians attacked were in the country illegally. She said that claim is false and cannot be used to excuse the violence. Many victims, she noted, owned legal businesses that have now been destroyed. “To say that Nigerians who are in South Africa doing legitimate business are illegal migrants is absolutely untrue,” she said.
On whether Nigeria will punish South Africa, Ojukwu said the option is on the table. She explained that any such step must get approval from top government officials and the National Assembly. “Well, that is a situation that we are considering,” she said. “This is a decision that has to be taken at the highest level of government. But it’s not off the table.”
🎥 Credit: Channels Television