Nigerian Community In South Africa Lives In Fear Of Xenophobic Attacks Over ‘Igwe Coronation'

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Panic has erupted in the Nigerian community in the Eastern Cape Province following violent xenophobic attacks linked to the controversial installation of a Nigerian traditional chief.

The unrest began in the early hours of Monday as mobs stormed the streets of Albany and Buffalo in East London (KuGombo), protesting the coronation of Solomon Eziko as "Igwe Ndigbo," a ceremony held in early March that has recently drawn opposition from local traditionalists and political activists.

At least 26 Nigerians were injured and hospitalised, while property worth millions of rands—including cars, shops, and warehouses—was looted or set ablaze. Businesses across the Eastern Cape and parts of KwaZulu-Natal remain closed amid fears of further violence.

Viral videos circulating on social media showed Nigerians being beaten and forced out of their shops by civilians and, in some cases, security operatives. In one clip, officials from a local labour organisation compelled a Nigerian trader to pack his goods and leave the country immediately.

Rev. Frank Onyekwelu, President of the Nigerian Citizen Association South Africa (NICASA), described the attacks as a "calculated campaign of hate," claiming the coronation was used as a pretext to target Nigerian businesses.

“The coronation was purely symbolic to preserve Igbo culture among the diaspora, but some locals interpreted it as an attempt to establish parallel authority on South African soil,” Onyekwelu said.

The situation has sparked debates within the Nigerian community. Ohanaeze Ndigbo South Africa President, Dr. ABC Okokoh, denied a formal coronation took place, describing it as a private symbolic event. The President-General of the Nigerian Union South Africa (NUSA), Mr. Smart Nwobi, confirmed that the community is assessing damages while many Nigerians remain too afraid to operate businesses or walk the streets.

A high-powered delegation from the Nigerian Mission in South Africa, NUSA, and Ohanaeze Ndigbo is expected to meet local South African royal authorities to clarify that the "Igwe" title does not challenge the authority of local kings or the state.

Rev. Onyekwelu also criticised what he described as "double standards" in the treatment of African migrants, highlighting enclaves like Orania in the Northern Cape where residents operate their own currency and bylaws without similar scrutiny.

Reports indicate that protesters may regroup in Central Business Districts of major Eastern Cape towns, keeping the Nigerian community on high alert.