Nigeria has reported the deaths of two of its citizens in South Africa following separate incidents on 28 June. One man was reportedly killed by police officers using harsh interrogation methods, whilst another shop owner was fatally attacked by unknown assailants. The Nigerian foreign ministry characterised these deaths as part of a broader pattern of anti-migrant violence, where rising xenophobic sentiment has prompted the repatriation of approximately 25,000 foreign nationals from the region. In response, Nigeria has issued a formal diplomatic warning and indicated that further action may be considered if South African authorities do not address the issue.

South Africa's government has rejected compensation claims, and a cabinet minister provoked further controversy through disparaging remarks about Nigerians, which Nigeria's ministry swiftly condemned as hate speech. The escalating tensions reflect deeper economic anxieties within South Africa, where unemployment exceeds 30% and migrant workers are increasingly blamed for job scarcity and strain on public services. Anti-migrant groups had previously set a 30 June deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave, prompting several African nations including Ghana, Malawi and Nigeria to repatriate their citizens ahead of this date.