Nigerian Bishop Taiwo Fakunle Shot Dead at Johannesburg Home

Nigerian Bishop Taiwo Fakunle has been shot dead at his residence in Johannesburg, South Africa, in an incident that has triggered calls for a thorough investigation and renewed concerns over the safety of Nigerians living in the country.

Fakunle, who was 58, was reportedly killed on Friday, September 4, at his home in Kensington, Johannesburg. According to the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA), two suspects allegedly gained access to the residence before opening fire on the cleric.

NICASA National President, Rev. Frank Onyekwelu, said the bishop was shot multiple times during the attack. Reports on the incident indicate that Fakunle sustained several gunshot wounds before he died.

The circumstances surrounding the killing remain under investigation, with the motive for the attack yet to be publicly established. NICASA said a murder case had been opened at the Jeppe Police Station, while South African authorities continue efforts to establish what led to the fatal shooting.

The association has called on the South African Police Service and other relevant authorities to conduct a comprehensive and credible investigation into the killing. It also urged investigators to identify and apprehend those responsible and ensure that they face prosecution under the law.

Fakunle’s death has also prompted NICASA to engage Nigerian diplomatic authorities. The association said the Nigerian Consulate General in Johannesburg had been informed of the incident and called for sustained diplomatic engagement throughout the investigation.

The killing comes at a time of heightened concern over the safety of Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa. Nigeria’s National Assembly on Friday announced an indefinite suspension of official visits and legislative engagements with South Africa over recurring attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals.

Nigerian officials have previously raised concerns about the number of Nigerians killed in mob attacks, hate-related violence and other incidents in South Africa. Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, said in July that at least 98 Nigerians had died in such incidents since 2022.

NICASA, while expressing concern over Fakunle’s death, appealed to Nigerians and community leaders in South Africa to remain calm and law-abiding while allowing the authorities to pursue the case through established legal channels. The association also extended condolences to Fakunle’s family, church community, friends, fellow Ekiti indigenes and the wider Nigerian community.

The death of Bishop Fakunle adds another tragic dimension to the broader concerns surrounding violent crime and the security of Nigerian nationals in South Africa. For now, attention remains focused on the police investigation and efforts to establish the identities of the attackers, their motive and the circumstances that led to the bishop’s killing.