Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has revealed that she held talks with South African Foreign Affairs Minister Ronald Lamola over renewed xenophobic tensions and anti-foreigner protests in South Africa.

In a statement posted on Thursday, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Lamola expressed concerns over Nigeria’s plans to evacuate citizens willing to leave South Africa following recent anti-migrant demonstrations, including protests held in Durban on May 6.

The Nigerian minister said the government could not remain silent in the face of what she described as the harassment, humiliation, and extra-judicial killings of Nigerians living in South Africa.

She also called on South African authorities to ensure that cases involving attacks and killings of Nigerians are treated seriously, with clear consequences for perpetrators.

According to her, although the Durban protest did not turn violent due to heavy security deployment, Nigerians were advised by the Nigerian mission to shut their businesses and remain indoors for safety.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu further raised concerns about anti-foreigner rhetoric by some South African political groups, warning that such actions endanger the lives and properties of Nigerians and other African nationals.

She disclosed that reports had also emerged of Nigerian children and children of mixed Nigerian-South African heritage being bullied in schools and told to “return to their country.”

Lamola reportedly assured Nigeria that South African authorities recognised their responsibility to protect affected children and were working through educational institutions to discourage such behaviour.

The Nigerian minister questioned whether the attacks should now be described as “Afriphobia” rather than xenophobia, noting that black Africans appeared to be the primary targets.

She added that President Bola Tinubu has directed Nigerian missions in South Africa to immediately establish crisis notification units to assist Nigerians facing threats or danger.