“The vilification, persecution, targeting, extra-judicial killing, racial stereotyping and murder of Nigerians in South Africa is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” he said. He added that six Nigerians had reportedly been killed in 2026, three of them allegedly by South African police officers. Fani-Kayode maintained that such incidents must end for diplomatic relations between Nigeria and South Africa to improve. “If our relations are to stabilise with South Africa, this has to stop,” he said. Despite his criticism, the envoy said progress was made during discussions between Nigerian and South African officials.