Ifeanyi Ejiofor, a human rights attorney and legal representative for the Indigenous People of Biafra, has called on the Nigerian administration to shift from passive statements to concrete measures regarding the security of Nigerians in South Africa. In a Saturday announcement, Ejiofor emphasized that the federal government must utilize all diplomatic and judicial channels to safeguard its citizens against the ongoing wave of xenophobic violence.
With other nations already withdrawing their citizens due to fatalities and rising hostility in South Africa, Ejiofor argued that the Nigerian government has a fundamental duty to provide protection rather than mere empathy. He advocates for a proactive approach, including the pursuit of thorough investigations and legal accountability for perpetrators.
Highlighting the response of the Ghanaian government to the June 2026 killing of Bashiru Isak in Cape Town, Ejiofor noted that Ghana’s swift and firm diplomatic stance serves as a model for effective governance. He urged Nigeria to adopt a similar strategy, prioritizing the lives of its nationals over routine diplomatic formalities to ensure that xenophobic attacks are permanently addressed.
