Nigerians living in South Africa are raising urgent concerns over a disturbing wave of xenophobic harassment that is putting lives at risk.
Reports reveal that Nigerian women have been forced to give birth on hospital floors after being denied access to public healthcare facilities.
According to a Saturday PUNCH investigation, members of Operation Dudula—a group notorious for targeting foreigners—have been blocking non-South Africans from entering hospitals. This has led to shocking cases where pregnant Nigerian women had no choice but to deliver their babies outside medical facilities, without any medical support.
Beyond childbirth, other foreign patients have reportedly been discharged without treatment, sparking renewed fears of xenophobic violence in South Africa.
Frank Onyekwelu, President of the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), described the situation as “another form of xenophobic attack” aimed at foreign nationals. He called on both the Nigerian and South African governments to act immediately.
Smart Nwobi, President of the Nigerian Union South Africa (NUSA), also condemned the harassment, pointing to a recent incident where a Nigerian mother was prevented from taking her child for immunisation. He stressed that Operation Dudula is not a recognised government body but rather a coalition of locals taking the law into their own hands.
Former Nigerian diplomats have also spoken out. Ex-Consul to Cameroon, Rasheed Akinkuolie, labelled the treatment “illegal and criminal,” while retired Ambassador Ogbole Amedu-Ode warned that the actions could damage diplomatic relations and weaken African solidarity.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that African Ambassadors in South Africa are in talks with the South African government to seek a lasting resolution to the crisis.
This troubling development underscores the urgent need for stronger diplomatic intervention and protection of Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa.
