Senate President Godswill Akpabio has vehemently condemned the alleged killing of a Nigerian surgeon by a mechanic in South Africa, describing the incident as deeply disturbing and unacceptable. He expressed grave concern over rising violence against Nigerians abroad and called for a coordinated legislative response between Nigeria's National Assembly and the South African Parliament to address xenophobic attacks.
Nigeria's senate president, Godswill Akpabio, has decried the alleged killing of a Nigerian surgeon in South Africa, reportedly attacked by a local mechanic, describing the incident as disturbing and unacceptable.
Speaking during plenary, Akpabio expressed deep concern over the growing wave of violence targeting Nigerians abroad, particularly in South Africa.
He said he had already taken “personal action” on the matter while urging a coordinated legislative response between Nigeria’s National Assembly and the South African Parliament.
According to him, the graphic details surrounding the killing were too distressing to ignore.
He stressed the need for direct engagement with South African lawmakers, calling for the issue to be formally debated in their parliament.
“For over one hour and 30 minutes on this issue, like I said, if you watch those videos, you will not be able to sleep. I was planning to meet with them and then come back to report to the Senate.
“I have taken personal action already, as you said, but I think this collaborative effort—this joint decision between the House of Representatives and the Senate to engage the South African Parliament—is very important. I would like to see the South African Parliament debating this. I would like to see them questioning themselves,” he said.
He described the reported killing as senseless, alleging that the victim—identified as a Nigerian surgeon—was attacked under the false belief that he was competing for local jobs.
The Senate President warned that the situation goes beyond rhetoric, urging lawmakers to take concrete actions to protect Nigerians abroad.
“Either they applaud their citizens or they condemn them. People who come to do legitimate business, even tourists to South Africa, are being killed as if they are going to work.
“You can imagine somebody, a surgeon from Nigeria, being lynched on the road by a mechanic in South Africa. And his reason is that the surgeon is coming to take his job. Meanwhile, he is a mechanic, and the Nigerian dies simply because he visited South Africa.
“The issue goes beyond rhetoric.
“If prayers are not enough, then we strengthen the prayers and take action from there. So please, distinguished colleagues, let’s not dwell too much on this,” he added.
