Gunmen Kill Two Nigerians in South Africa
Gunmen Kill Two Nigerians in South Africa
Two Nigerians, identified only as Austin and Ayo, were shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Durban, South Africa.
The incident reportedly took place on Thursday, July 9.
According to reports, three masked gunmen forced their way into Austin’s office at around 8 pm. Upon entering, they encountered both men and shot them immediately on the spot.
A friend of one of the deceased, who identified himself simply as Fidelis, told a correspondent on the telephone on Monday that both died on the spot.
He said, “Austin runs a car business and also sells tyres in Durban. On the day of the incident, his friend Ayo came to visit him at his shop. They were standing and talking when some men wearing masks suddenly ran into the shop. The men were holding guns, and without saying a word, they shot both of them.”
Fidelis said some customers who were present in the shop fled when they saw the men wielding their guns before the attack
People nearby said they heard gunshots and saw the masked men run away quickly after the attack. Efforts were made to rush the victims to the hospital, where they were confirmed dead on arrival by doctors on duty,” he added.
Another source based in Nigeria and privy to the incident had earlier sent a Closed-Circuit Television footage of the incident to our correspondent.
In the footage, the two friends were seen standing and chatting when the gunmen suddenly appeared from behind and shot Austin at close range. Ayo, meanwhile, was shot while attempting to escape.
A source revealed, “We only learned about the incident a week after it happened. Although there are claims that the killing was linked to a failed business deal, the exact motive remains unclear. As of now, the authorities have yet to apprehend the attackers, but we were informed that an investigation is ongoing.”
Attempts to reach the spokesperson for the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Adulrahman Balogun, for comment were unsuccessful, as calls and messages went unanswered at the time of reporting.
Earlier reports in May highlighted calls from the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA) for justice following the deaths of two other Nigerians, Taiwo Raji and Yemi Akinwunmi, who were shot by a South African citizen in Pretoria. Raji and Akinwunmi were killed outside their shops on Church Street, Arcadia, Pretoria, on April 20, 2025.
NICASA President Frank Onyekwelu stated that the Nigerian community had pursued legal action, but justice had not been served as the suspect was granted bail by a South African court.
In a separate case, Onyekwelu disclosed that Nigerian businessman Silas Ani was kidnapped from his home in Springs, Johannesburg. Ani and other victims were allegedly abducted by a man named Xolani Khumalo on April 24, 2025.
Onyekwelu also lamented the death of Julius Chukwunta, who was attacked and killed at his residence in Midrand, Johannesburg, on December 7, 2024.
