According to a report by the Punch on Saturday, May 17, 2026, the President of the Association of Yorubas in Diaspora, South Africa, Dr Olusola Agbeniyi, has criticised Senator Adams Oshiomhole over his remarks on recent xenophobic tensions in South Africa, insisting that the claims were not supported by verified information from those on the ground.
Oshiomhole had, during Senate plenary and in a televised interview, called for a strong Nigerian response to anti-foreigner protests in South Africa, alleging that Nigerians had been killed and urging the principle of reciprocity in Nigeria’s diplomatic relations.
However, Agbeniyi rejected the assertion, maintaining that the situation had been misrepresented and exaggerated through unverified reports circulating on social media and other informal platforms.
He said, “We are on the ground and would have the information if anyone was killed,” stressing that those living within the affected communities would be aware of any confirmed fatalities or targeted attacks.
He further explained that although protests and demonstrations involving anti-immigrant sentiments took place in certain areas, there were no verified reports of Nigerians being killed or specifically targeted during the unrest.
Agbeniyi also clarified that the two Nigerians earlier reported dead were not connected to the protests, noting that linking their deaths to xenophobic violence was misleading and capable of escalating tensions unnecessarily.
He cautioned that the spread of unverified narratives could worsen diplomatic sensitivities and create fear among Nigerians residing in South Africa, many of whom continue to live and work peacefully.
According to him, the unrest was largely driven by domestic political and economic frustrations within South Africa rather than direct hostility toward Nigerians or other foreign nationals, and he urged stakeholders to avoid inflammatory statements that could heighten misunderstanding…….See More
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