Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has condemned the recent killing of two Nigerian traders in South Africa as both intolerable and senseless. She called on authorities to ensure that those responsible are promptly brought to justice.

In a statement released through NiDCOM spokesperson Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Dabiri-Erewa emphasised that the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa is actively investigating the incident. She also pointed out that, despite the existence of an early warning mechanism established by both countries to prevent such tragedies, South Africa has yet to implement this vital protocol.

The identities of the victims, named as Austin and Ayo, remain undisclosed beyond their first names. Reports indicate that they were shot dead by masked gunmen in Durban. Unconfirmed accounts suggest that attackers stormed Austin’s office, opening fire on both him and his visitor, Ayo, at close range. Tragically, both victims died instantly.

The incident has heightened tensions within the Nigerian community in South Africa. In response, Dabiri-Erewa appealed for calm among Nigerian nationals, urging them not to take the law into their own hands while awaiting the outcome of the police investigation. She reassured the community that the Acting Nigerian High Commissioner has demanded a thorough, unbiased inquiry into the matter.

NiDCOM stands in solidarity with the families of the victims during this difficult time and assures that justice will be pursued vigorously.