The Nigerian Consulate-General in Johannesburg has urged Nigerians in parts of Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, to avoid isolated areas and adopt stronger personal safety measures following the deaths of eight women within about two months.
The advisory, signed by the Consul-General, Amb. (Mrs.) NiniKangwa O. Okey-Uche, mni, specifically mentioned Kempton Park, Rhodesfield and surrounding areas, where Nigerian women and girls who live, work, study, exercise or regularly pass through have been advised to exercise heightened caution.
The Consulate said the South African Police Service (SAPS) had deployed a multidisciplinary team of specialised law-enforcement personnel to investigate the deaths, adding that investigators had identified similarities in some of the cases and were examining whether they could be connected.
It, however, cautioned against unverified claims that the incidents were the work of a serial killer, stressing that SAPS had not established that the deaths were committed by one person or confirmed the involvement of a serial killer.
The Consulate said the circumstances surrounding each case remained under investigation.
It advised Nigerians to avoid walking, jogging or exercising alone in isolated, poorly lit or unfamiliar locations, particularly open fields and secluded pathways.
Residents were also encouraged to travel in groups where possible, use established fitness groups, avoid predictable routines and remain alert to their surroundings.
The advisory further urged Nigerians to limit distractions such as prolonged use of headphones or mobile phones in areas with poor visibility and to inform family members or trusted persons of their destinations, routes and expected return times.
It advised Nigerians to use reputable and traceable transportation, warning against accepting lifts from strangers or entering vehicles whose drivers, registration details or destinations could not be independently verified.
Those meeting people first encountered online were similarly advised to choose busy public places, notify trusted persons and arrange their own transportation.
The Consulate also urged members of the Nigerian community to report suspicious persons, vehicles, unusual activities and information about missing persons directly to SAPS or other competent authorities.
It provided 10111 as the SAPS emergency line, 08600 10111 for anonymous information and 112 for mobile emergencies, while noting that Nigerians could also use the MySAPS application to provide information.
According to the advisory, SAPS crime statistics recorded 1,223 murders, 2,369 sexual offences and 39,094 contact crimes against persons in Gauteng between January and March 2026.
The Consulate stressed that the statistics were provided as general context on violent and sexual crimes in the province and did not establish a link between the eight deaths or point to a particular crime pattern.
It also warned Nigerians against circulating unverified photographs, names, videos, voice notes or allegations identifying suspects or linking unrelated incidents.
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Such actions, it said, could prejudice ongoing investigations, harm innocent persons and undermine the work of law-enforcement agencies.
The Consulate said it would continue monitoring developments and liaising with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and relevant South African authorities, while expressing condolences to the families of the deceased women.
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