Two Nigerians, known simply as Austin and Ayo, have been shot dead by unknown gunmen in Durban, South Africa. The incident happened on the night of Thursday, July 9, around 8 p.m., when three masked men stormed Austin’s office.
The attackers shot both men on the spot before escaping.
“Austin runs a car business and sells tyres in Durban. Ayo had come to visit him that day. They were chatting in the shop when suddenly, three masked men ran in and shot them without saying a word,” said a friend of the victims, Fidelis, during a phone call on Monday.
Fidelis added that customers inside the shop fled in fear when they saw the armed men.
“After the gunshots, the attackers ran off quickly. Some people tried to help, but when the victims were taken to the hospital, doctors confirmed they were already dead,” he said.
Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage of the incident shows Austin and Ayo standing and talking before the gunmen appeared. Austin was shot at close range, while Ayo was shot as he tried to run away.
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Another source told reporters that the cause of the attack is still unknown.
“Some say it was linked to a business deal gone wrong, but no one is sure. The police say an investigation is ongoing, but the killers have not been caught yet,” the source said.
As of the time of this report, the spokesperson for the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abdurrahman Balogun, had not responded to calls or text messages.
This is not the first time Nigerians have been killed in South Africa. In April 2025, two other Nigerians, Taiwo Raji and Yemi Akinwunmi, were shot dead outside their shops in Pretoria. Their suspected killer was granted bail by a South African court.
Frank Onyekwelu, President of the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA), has repeatedly called for justice. He also reported that a Nigerian businessman, Silas Ani, was kidnapped in Johannesburg in April, and another man, Julius Chukwunta, was killed in his home in Midrand in December 2024.