The Federal Government has said that no Nigerian was killed and no Nigerian-owned property was destroyed during recent anti-foreigner protests in parts of South Africa.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed this in a situation report published on her X handle on Sunday, noting that while viral images circulating on social media suggested violence and xenophobic attacks, official reports from South African authorities indicated that recent protests in Pretoria and Johannesburg between 27 and 29 April 2026 were largely peaceful, though security operatives occasionally used tear gas to disperse gatherings.
However, two Nigerians died in separate incidents not directly linked to the protests. One died after an encounter with soldiers, while another was found dead following an alleged confrontation with metro police.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had summoned South Africa’s High Commissioner, while about 130 Nigerians registered for voluntary evacuation, with another round of demonstrations expected between May 4-8.
Exit Question: Is the speed of official diplomatic communication sufficient to effectively counter the rapid spread of misinformation on social media during international crises?
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