Mirian Gom 
Femi Falana
ABUJA, Nigeria – Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana petitions the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights over escalating xenophobic attacks and killings targeting Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa.
Falana urges the Commission to immediately refer the matter to the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights for binding adjudication, citing what he describes as widespread violence, intimidation and systemic discrimination against foreign nationals.
In the petition on Wednesday, the senior lawyer accuses South African authorities of failing to prevent repeated attacks, prosecute offenders and protect vulnerable African migrants.
“There remains a persistent, widespread, and well-documented pattern of xenophobic violence, intimidation, and discrimination,” the petition states.
Falana highlights recent incidents involving the deaths of two Nigerians, Amaramiro Emmanuel and Ekpenyong Andrew, allegedly linked to personnel of the South African National Defence Force.
According to the petition, Andrew dies after an arrest in Pretoria while Emmanuel reportedly succumbs to injuries allegedly inflicted by security officials.
The lawyer argues that the attacks reflect a “climate of impunity” fuelled by weak accountability and ineffective state response mechanisms.
“These violations are neither isolated nor sporadic,” Falana says. “They reflect a recurring cycle of attacks marked by killings, torture, looting and forced displacement.”
The petition also demands independent investigations, compensation for victims, institutional reforms and guarantees against future attacks.
Nigeria earlier called for full autopsy reports and access to investigative files following the killings, amid growing tension within the Nigerian community in South Africa.
The latest move intensifies diplomatic pressure on Pretoria as concerns rise over the safety of African migrants in the country.
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Korede Abdullah