President Bola Tinubu has declined to receive a special envoy dispatched by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa amid growing concerns over persistent xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

The South African delegation, led by Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, arrived in Abuja on Friday, July 24, with what was described as a “very important message” for the Nigerian leader.

The development comes less than 24 hours after the reported killing of a Nigerian national, Chika Ibe, who was allegedly picked up from his residence at Parksig Villas Complex in Bellville, Cape Town, and tortured to death by personnel of the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Nigeria has maintained a firm stance against xenophobic attacks in South Africa. At the 69th Ordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS in Lungi, Sierra Leone, Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented President Tinubu, condemned the attacks and pledged that Nigeria would push for stronger measures against xenophobia at the African Union.

Speaking on the recurring Afrophobic attacks targeting African nationals in South Africa, Shettima called for a united continental response to protect the rights and dignity of Africans living across the continent.

He disclosed that the Federal Government had evacuated 1,490 Nigerians affected by previous xenophobic violence and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to working with regional and continental institutions to address the crisis.

Diplomatic sources disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, advised that it was not an appropriate time for President Tinubu to receive the South African envoy, citing the continued attacks on Nigerians, their businesses and properties in South Africa.

According to the sources, the Foreign Affairs Minister stressed that the South African delegation could not secure an audience with the President without a prior appointment and concrete commitments from Pretoria.

She was also said to have insisted that South Africa must present a signed copy of the Memorandum of Understanding on the Early Warning Mechanism (EWM), which both countries signed in Abuja on October 22 last year, before further diplomatic engagement can proceed.

South Africa has reportedly failed to ratify the agreement, citing what Nigerian officials described as inadequate reasons.

The Early Warning Mechanism was designed to strengthen cooperation between both countries in monitoring threats of violence, protecting citizens, and addressing consular matters.

It also provides for rapid communication channels to de-escalate security risks involving foreign nationals and to prevent criminal acts, reprisals and xenophobic attacks against citizens of either country.

Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the framework could have facilitated compensation claims for Nigerians whose businesses and properties were destroyed during xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

However, South African authorities have so far declined to compensate victims of the attacks.

Presidency sources said that as of the time of filing this report, President Tinubu had yet to agree to meet the South African envoy. The outcome of a telephone conversation reportedly initiated by President Ramaphosa over the weekend also remained unclear.

Observers believe South Africa’s diplomatic outreach may be driven by concerns over the potential impact of deteriorating relations on South African investments and businesses operating in Nigeria, as well as Nigeria’s growing campaign for tougher continental measures against xenophobia and Afrophobic attacks.

Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted a Kebbi State High Court judge, Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza, in a midnight raid on his residence in Bunza Local Government Area of the state.

The judge was reportedly whisked away in the early hours of Sunday after armed assailants stormed his home along Zogirma Road shortly after he returned from a trip to Sokoto State.

According to sources, the attack occurred at about midnight, with the gunmen firing sporadically before abducting the judge.

“He had just returned from Sokoto when the gunmen stormed his residence and took him away,” a source said.

The source noted that although the attackers fired several gunshots during the operation, no member of the judge’s household was injured.

“Immediately the incident occurred, we reported to the appropriate authorities, including the leadership of the High Court,” the source added.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Kebbi State Police Command, SP Bashir Usman, said the command had launched an intensive rescue operation.

“I can confirm that Hon. Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza was abducted from his residence in Bunza around midnight,” Usman said.

He disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, CP Umar Muhammad Hadejia, immediately deployed tactical and intelligence teams to track down the kidnappers and secure the judge’s release.

“As we speak, our personnel are combing identified locations, including forest areas, to ensure that the judge is rescued alive and unharmed,” the police spokesman stated.

A senior official of the Kebbi State High Court, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment publicly on the matter, described the abduction as a devastating blow to the state’s judiciary.

“I am not authorized to speak formally, but this is a painful moment for us. To hear that one of our judge was abducted at his residence is very disturbing,” the official said.

He added that the management of the High Court had already met with heads of security agencies in the state to strategise on efforts to secure the judge’s immediate release.

As of the time of filing this report, no group had claimed responsibility for the abduction, while security operatives continued search-and-rescue operations across suspected hideouts.

The Enugu State Government has commenced a Continuous Survey Revalidation and Digitisation Exercise as part of the ongoing Survey Records Digitisation Programme, aimed at establishing a fully digital, transparent and verifiable land administration system in the state.

The exercise, according to the government, is a key component of the digital transformation of the state’s land and survey records system and is designed to protect property rights, eliminate disputes arising from lost or defective records, and strengthen public confidence in land administration.

It also forms part of the comprehensive digital transformation agenda of the Governor Peter Mbah administration.

The government, in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said the exercise was intended to ensure that land records in the state are properly verified, digitally captured and geographically mapped.

The government said the objective was to establish “a fully digital, transparent, and verifiable land administration framework that protects property rights, eliminates disputes arising from lost or defective records, and strengthens public confidence in land administration.”

The statement said the participation of all landowners, estate developers, surveyors and property owners was required to ensure the accuracy and completion of the process.

According to the government, the affected persons are required to submit their Survey Plans, Layout Approvals and related land documents for verification and revalidation, digital identity creation and geospatial mapping, as well as the issuance of Digital Land Identity Cards.

To make the exercise faster, easier and more accessible, the government has designated six revalidation centres across the state.

The centres are the Office of the Surveyor General, 5/27 Colliery Avenue, GRA, Enugu; Enugu State Housing Development Corporation (ESHDC) Headquarters, No. 21 Kingsway Road, GRA, Enugu; and the Enugu Geographic Information System (ENGIS) Headquarters, 4 Chisimdi Ukpata Close, Ebeano Estate, Enugu.

Others are the Enugu State Ministry of Housing, State Secretariat, Enugu; Nsukka Local Government Area Secretariat, Nsukka; and Enugu East Local Government Area Secretariat, Nkwo Nike.

The government strongly advised all landowners to visit any of the designated centres and complete the process promptly, stressing that their participation was essential to the success of the exercise and the protection of their property interests.

“Full participation is essential for the success of this exercise and the protection of every genuine landowner’s interest,” the government said.

The exercise is expected to further strengthen the integrity of Enugu State’s land administration system by ensuring that survey records are properly verified, digitally captured, geographically mapped and readily verifiable, while reducing the risks associated with lost, defective or disputed land records.