The Federal Government has called on South Africa to take decisive action to end the recurring xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians, warning that the violence is threatening relations between both countries.

At a meeting with South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, said 98 Nigerians have been killed in mob and hate-related attacks since 2022, describing the incidents as Afrophobic violence.

Enikanolaiye said President Bola Tinubu directed the engagement to seek practical solutions, urging South African authorities to enforce the rule of law by arresting and prosecuting offenders rather than allowing mob attacks.

In response, Lamola condemned all forms of intolerance but said South Africa would continue to address illegal migration and criminal activities through lawful measures, insisting that criminality should not be linked to any nationality.

Nigeria maintained that while it does not support criminal activities, all Nigerians living in South Africa must be treated in line with the country’s laws and international human rights standards.