Tinubu Reportedly Refuses Ramaphosa’s Envoy as Nigeria Demands Action Over Xenophobic Attacks

President Bola Tinubu has reportedly declined to receive a special envoy sent by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa amid heightened diplomatic tensions over persistent xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the South African delegation, led by International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola, arrived in Abuja on Friday, July 24, carrying what officials described as a “very important message” for the Nigerian President.

The reported diplomatic snub followed the death of Nigerian citizen Chika Ibe in Cape Town, where he allegedly died after being taken from his residence by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS). Video footage obtained by Vanguard from Nigerians in South Africa allegedly contradicts the official police account of the incident.

Sources said Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu advised the Presidency against receiving the delegation, citing continued attacks on Nigerians, their businesses and properties in South Africa.

She reportedly insisted that South Africa should first ratify the Memorandum of Understanding on the Early Warning Mechanism, signed in Abuja on October 22 last year, before further diplomatic engagement.

The agreement was created to strengthen cooperation in preventing violence, protecting citizens, addressing consular issues and responding swiftly to xenophobic attacks.

Nigerian officials also argued that the framework would have supported compensation for Nigerians who lost businesses and property during previous attacks, although South Africa has maintained that compensation applies only to legally registered properties.

As of the latest update, President Tinubu had not agreed to receive the South African delegation, while the outcome of a reported telephone conversation initiated by President Ramaphosa remained unknown.

Nigeria recently reaffirmed its opposition to xenophobia during the 69th ECOWAS Summit in Sierra Leone, where Vice President Kashim Shettima said the country would advocate stronger African Union measures to combat attacks against Africans living in other African states.

Shettima also disclosed that Nigeria had evacuated 1,490 citizens affected by xenophobic violence.

Investigation Begins into Chika Ibe’s Death

South Africa’s Independent Police Investigative Directorate has opened an investigation into Chika Ibe’s death after police claimed he collapsed during an arrest in Cape Town.

The agency said preliminary post-mortem findings revealed multiple bruises and abrasions on his back and chest.

Western Cape police spokesperson Col. Andre Traut said officers discovered an unlicensed firearm and suspected drugs during a search operation before Ibe became ill.

However, video footage obtained by Vanguard reportedly shows Ibe, after sustaining injuries from rubber bullets, being shot by a South African police officer.

The incident triggered protests among Nigerians in Cape Town, with one witness heard in the video saying:

“The police has just killed someone now; the police has just killed someone now. People need to come to Parksig Villa, Bellville, Cape Town. They can’t be treating us like animal and be using guns on us. We need to end it once and for all.”

Reacting to the incident, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa described it as “a very unfortunate situation” during an interview with the BBC.

South Africa’s Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration has confirmed that investigations into the incident are ongoing.

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