President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken the fight against xenophobia straight to the heart of the African Union, demanding immediate and united action to stop violent attacks on Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa.
Speaking yesterday at the 21st Extraordinary Session of AU Heads of State in Luanda, Angola, Tinubu said silence in the face of bloodshed betrays the very idea of African brotherhood.
A Cry From Luanda: “Our Unity Is Under Fire”
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Tinubu told the Assembly that no immigration law can justify mob violence.
“While recognizing South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws and acknowledging its contributions to the continent, Nigeria stresses that such attacks undermine African solidarity, unity, and peaceful coexistence, and require urgent collective action,” he said.
He urged the AU to place the crisis on the agenda of its 40th Ordinary Session in January 2027, and to reaffirm that every African deserves safety and dignity wherever they live. Tinubu insisted that dialogue, not confrontation, must lead the way, but warned that time is running out.
Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu went further, hinting that Nigeria could consider retaliatory measures if the attacks continue.
Evacuations, Vigilantes, and Rising Fear
The warning comes after months of renewed anti-immigrant agitation in South Africa. Groups like Operation Dudula and March and March have targeted foreign nationals, in some cases blocking them from hospitals and schools.
The crisis peaked in June with mass demonstrations and an unofficial deadline for undocumented Africans to leave.
Between June 10 and July 15, the Federal Government airlifted 1,490 Nigerians home in seven evacuation flights. Human Rights Watch and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights have both condemned the wave of intimidation and assaults.
Sahel Spillover: Defence Chief Raises Border Alarm
Back in Abuja, Defence Minister Gen. Christopher Musa (Rtd) said Nigeria is tightening border security as instability from the Sahel spills across.
“Some of our ongoing challenges stem from regional instability in the Sahel, which trickles across our borders. However, comprehensive border management measures are actively being implemented,” he said.
Also present in Luanda were Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo and NiDCOM Chair Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who both pledged stronger data systems and diaspora protection.
Tinubu’s message was blunt: Africa cannot preach unity while watching its own burn.
