ABUJA – Nigeria has renewed its condemnation of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, with the Federal Government revealing that about 98 Nigerians have lost their lives in previous incidents as both countries held high-level talks aimed at preventing further violence.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, made the disclosure on Monday during a closed-door meeting in Abuja with South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, who led a special presidential delegation to Nigeria. The discussions focused on the recent wave of attacks against foreign nationals and broader issues affecting bilateral relations. The South African delegation defended its government’s enforcement of immigration laws, saying authorities had a duty to tackle criminal activities, including alleged drug trafficking and other offences involving some immigrants.

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Responding, Enikanolaiye stressed that while South Africa has the sovereign right to enforce its immigration and criminal laws, such measures must not result in violence against law-abiding Nigerians and other African nationals. He described the attacks as a recurring pattern of Afrophobic violence and insisted that no justification exists for targeting innocent foreign residents. The minister also reminded the delegation of Nigeria’s historic support for South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle, noting that the enduring relationship between both countries should strengthen, not undermine, mutual respect and protection.

The Nigerian government called for frank and sustained engagement between Abuja and Pretoria to address the root causes of the attacks and prevent future incidents. Enikanolaiye said the reported deaths of about 98 Nigerians highlighted the gravity of the situation and underscored the need for both governments to work together to guarantee the safety of Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa.