South African Police Hunt Protesters Who Burn£d Vehicles, Shops Over Alleged Coronation Of Nigerian ‘Igbo King’
South African Police Hunt Protesters Who Burned Vehicles, Shops Over Alleged Coronation Of Nigerian ‘Igbo King’
At least ten vehicles belonging to Ethiopian and Somalian nationals operating spaza shops were reportedly set ablaze during the chaos.
South African authorities have launched a manhunt for individuals responsible for violent protests that erupted in KuGompo City, Eastern Cape, following outrage over the alleged coronation of a Nigerian Igbo traditional ruler, known as Eze Ndigbo.
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola said law enforcement agencies were already tracking down suspects linked to the unrest, which left properties destroyed and several people injured, according to SABC News.
At least ten vehicles belonging to Ethiopian and Somalian nationals operating spaza shops were reportedly set ablaze during the chaos.
The violence followed a protest march staged in reaction to the controversial installation of an “Igbo King,” which has sparked tensions between local communities, traditional leaders, and foreign nationals.
Masemola condemned the destruction, warning that those responsible would be held accountable.
“Damage to buildings is unnecessary, and South Africans are only allowed to protest unarmed, not in the way and the fashion that they behaved yesterday,” Masemola said on Tuesday.
“It’s uncalled for, and those who are involved will face the full might of the law, as we know who they are. We will collect them one by one so that they end up accounting for what they have done.”
On Monday, SaharaReporters reported that the protest escalated into violence, with demonstrators looting shops and burning down vehicles belonging to foreign nationals.
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The protest was spearheaded by members of the political group ActionSA, alongside traditional leaders and residents, who demanded the deportation of Nigerians allegedly linked to the controversial event.
Demonstrators described the purported coronation as an affront to the province’s sovereignty, constitutional order, and established traditional leadership systems.
Tensions quickly spiralled out of control as protesters set multiple vehicles and buildings ablaze in KuGompo City before moving to other areas when police intervened to disperse the crowd.
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Amid the escalating crisis, the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria distanced the Nigerian Government from the controversial development, insisting that no such coronation took place.
In a statement issued from Pretoria, the Commission said reports circulating in the public space were misleading and capable of worsening tensions.
The Nigerian High Commission emphasised that Nigeria respects South Africa’s sovereignty, laws, and traditional institutions, adding that it had no intention of undermining local authority structures.
Seeking to de-escalate tensions, the Commission apologised for the situation and attributed the controversy to a misunderstanding of Igbo cultural practices, explaining that community events and honorary titles are often misinterpreted.
It further explained that Igbo traditions revolve around festivals, ceremonies, and symbolic titles without political authority outside their cultural setting.
Highlighting examples, the Commission said, “Among the most prominent is the New Yam Festival (Iri Ji), a thanksgiving event held annually to mark the end of the farming season and the beginning of the harvest.
“Equally significant are masquerade festivals (Mmanwu), where elaborate costumed performances embody ancestral spirits.
“These masquerades are not only aesthetic spectacles but also serve important spiritual and social functions, entertaining, educating and sometimes enforcing community norms.”
The statement also referenced traditional marriage rites and chieftaincy titles as key elements of Igbo identity.
“The title-taking ceremonies, such as the conferment of chieftaincy titles, are also central to Igbo cultural life,” it said. “They recognise personal achievements, integrity, and service to the community.”
Meanwhile, police investigations into the violence continue, with authorities vowing to bring all perpetrators to justice as tensions remain high in the Eastern Cape.
