Nigerian man reportedly hacked to death in South Africa as xenophobic attacks continue
A man believed to be a Nigerian has reportedly been killed by a mob in Durban, South Africa, as attacks on foreigners in the country go on. Police in KwaZulu-Natal say a group of about 50 people was marching along Dr Pixley kaSeme Street in the city centre on Thursday, 22 October, when two men broke away, approached a man standing by the roadside and attacked him. He was declared dead at the scene. Police have not named the victim, describing him only as a foreign national in his late 30s or early 40s. A source told SaharaReporters that he was Nigerian and that he was hacked to death, but this has not been independently confirmed. Videos circulating online show a crowd armed with sticks and other weapons chasing a man in a red top and blue jeans through an open street in Durban, knocking him down and beating him repeatedly. Two security officers appear to try to step in but pull back as the crowd grows. It is not yet clear whether the videos show the same attack police are investigating. Police have opened a murder case and say they are following several leads to identify and arrest the suspects. No arrests have been announced. The killing comes amid a wave of anti-immigrant protests and violence that spread across South Africa this year, with groups demanding that foreigners leave the country. Nigeria's ambassador-designate, Femi Fani-Kayode, said in September that at least 12 Nigerians had been killed in South Africa in 2026, and 112 since 2022, with no convictions. Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Ministry says more than 2,000 Nigerians have returned home on evacuation flights since June, and has urged those still in South Africa to stay vigilant, avoid affected areas and keep in touch with the High Commission and consulate.
- Police say two men broke away from a march of about 50 people and attacked the victim
- Victim not yet named; Nigerian nationality not officially confirmed
- At least 12 Nigerians killed in South Africa this year, says envoy