RELATIONS BETWEEN AFRICA’S TWO LARGEST ECONOMIES UNDER STRAIN

Fri 10 July 2026:

Nigeria accuses South Africa of apartheid-style policing after custody death

Relations between Nigeria and South Africa have entered a new period of diplomatic strain after Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused South African authorities on 5 July 2026 of failing to protect Nigerian citizens following the death of a Nigerian national in police custody in Pretoria.

The dispute, which follows months of growing concern over violence against foreign nationals and intensified immigration enforcement, has produced sharply conflicting accounts of what happened and renewed scrutiny of bilateral relations.

The immediate trigger for the dispute was the death of Emeka Charles Iroegbu on 28 June 2026 while in the custody of South African law enforcement in Sunnyside, Pretoria.

Nigeria alleges that Iroegbu was subjected to violent interrogation and has argued that the incident forms part of a broader pattern of abuse against Nigerian nationals.

The Nigerian government has also linked the case to increasing anti-immigrant sentiment, claiming that official responses have failed to adequately protect foreign nationals.

South African authorities reject those allegations. According to their account, Iroegbu suffered a medical emergency while in custody. Officials have urged Nigeria to allow formal investigative processes to determine the facts rather than drawing conclusions before those investigations are complete.

Businessman and Vice Chairman of the African Diaspora Forum, Olorunfemi Adeleke, said public discourse surrounding the dispute has also been influenced by online platforms.

“The advent of social media, good or bad, has contributed to some of the noise across both countries and it has to be managed.”

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Rising tensions

The diplomatic disagreement is not limited to a singular incident. Nigeria has also raised concerns about the April 2026 death of Emmanuel Chidiebere Amaramiro in Gqeberha, alleging that members of the South African National Defence Force assaulted him. The SANDF has denied any involvement.

The latest dispute has unfolded alongside intensified immigration enforcement in South Africa. Since early June, authorities have expanded deportation and repatriation operations, resulting in tens of thousands of undocumented migrants leaving the country through deportation or voluntary return programmes.

At the same time, anti-immigrant protests in several communities have heightened concerns about the safety of foreign nationals. Nigeria argues that these developments signify a bigger climate of hostility, while South Africa maintains that immigration enforcement and criminal investigations should not be conflated with allegations of xenophobic violence.

Competing narratives shape diplomatic response

The disagreement reflects two fundamentally different narratives. Nigeria contends that the deaths of its citizens and the wider climate of anti-immigrant hostility indicate systemic failures that require urgent accountability. Its recent diplomatic statement characterises the incidents as evidence of state tolerance for violence against Nigerian nationals.

South Africa disputes those claims, insisting there is no evidence of a state-sanctioned campaign targeting Nigerians. Officials have emphasised that investigations into deaths in custody must follow established legal procedures and have called for continued engagement through existing diplomatic channels.

Adeleke said both citizens and foreign nationals should be afforded equal protection under the law.

“The South African government needs to protect its citizens and also foreigners regardless of whether they’re documented or not in the country. The rule of law should take its course. Let the police do its work and we will all live in a better society.”

As investigations continue, the deaths have become more than isolated criminal or policing matters. They now sit at the centre of a broader debate over migration and the future of relations between two of Africa’s most influential nations.

To hear more from Olorunfemi Adeleke, watch the video below: