Cleric claims his ministry building was set ablaze, calls for protection of Nigerians abroad
Popular Nigerian cleric, Apostle Johnson Suleman, has alleged that one of his church branches in South Africa was set on fire, raising renewed concerns over reported attacks on Nigerian-owned establishments in the country.
Suleman made the claim in a public statement shared on Sunday, stating that the incident involved the burning of a church facility linked to his ministry. However, independent confirmation of the specific attack has not yet been verified by authorities at the time of reporting.
According to the cleric, the alleged incident is part of a wider pattern of hostility against Nigerians in South Africa, which he described as “deeply troubling” and unacceptable. He called on both Nigerian and South African authorities to take urgent steps to protect foreign nationals and their places of worship.
Details surrounding the exact location, timing, and extent of damage remain unclear, and no official police report or South African government statement has yet confirmed the alleged arson attack.
The claim comes amid ongoing reports of xenophobic tensions in parts of South Africa, where foreign nationals have previously faced sporadic violence, looting, and destruction of property during protests or unrest.
Nigerian authorities have recently engaged South African officials diplomatically over the safety of citizens abroad, following multiple allegations of targeted attacks on businesses and communities.
As investigations continue, the authenticity and full circumstances of the alleged church burning remain unconfirmed, with authorities expected to provide further clarification.