A Nigerian Bishop Was Shot Dead In Johannesburg, And Nigeria Wants A Prosecution
Johannesburg · Sunday 13 September 2026
Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle, 58, an indigene of Iye in Ilejemeje local government area of Ekiti State, was shot dead at his residence in Kensington, Johannesburg on 4 September. The Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa says two men entered the house and shot him more than seven times, and that the property was burgled. Nigeria's Consulate General in Johannesburg has condemned the killing, and Abuja has demanded an investigation and prosecution.
The detail that worries the community
That he was traced to his home. A street robbery is one kind of risk and being followed to where you sleep is another, and it is the second that has Nigerians in South Africa asking whether they are being selected rather than encountered.
What the two governments can each actually do
| Abuja | Pretoria |
|---|---|
| Consular support and pressure | Investigate and charge |
| Publish the number of cases | Report on outcomes, not arrests |
| Travel advice that is specific | Say whether nationality was a factor |
Nigeria has done the first row. The second and third are outstanding on both sides.
A demand for prosecution is worth exactly as much as the follow-up that comes after the news cycle ends, and that follow-up is almost never reported.
The measurable question
How many Nigerian nationals have died violently in South Africa this year, how many cases reached a court, and how many ended in a conviction. Both governments could publish those three figures. Neither does, which leaves the argument to be conducted entirely in anecdotes, and anecdotes are what turn into reprisals.
Reporting: Channels Television, The News Nigeria and The Gazelle News.
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