The Nigerian Consulate-General in Johannesburg has advised Nigerians, particularly women and girls, to exercise increased caution in Kempton Park, Rhodesfield and surrounding areas of Ekurhuleni following the deaths of eight women currently being investigated by South African authorities.

In a safety advisory dated September 16, 2026, the consulate said the deaths occurred over a period of about two months and had led the South African Police Service (SAPS) to deploy a multidisciplinary team involving specialised law-enforcement personnel.

The mission said investigators had found “concerning similarities” in some of the cases and were examining whether the incidents were connected.

However, it stressed that SAPS had not determined that a single person was responsible for the deaths and had not confirmed that a serial killer was involved.

The consulate said the circumstances surrounding each death remained under investigation but warranted heightened vigilance and reasonable personal-safety precautions among Nigerians who live, work, study, exercise, socialise or frequently travel through the affected areas.

The mission cited the wider security situation in Gauteng as an additional reason for the advisory. SAPS quarterly crime statistics recorded 1,223 murders and 2,369 sexual offences in the province between January and March 2026, alongside 39,094 contact crimes against persons.

The consulate clarified that the crime figures did not establish any link between the eight deaths and a specific crime pattern.

Nigerians were advised to avoid walking, jogging or exercising alone in isolated, poorly lit, deserted or unfamiliar locations, including open fields and secluded pathways.

The mission also encouraged residents to move in groups where possible, vary their routes and exercise schedules, and avoid repeatedly visiting isolated areas.

It urged Nigerians to remain conscious of their surroundings and limit prolonged use of headphones or mobile phones while walking or exercising in areas with poor visibility or little pedestrian activity.

Residents were further advised to tell family members, friends or other trusted contacts where they were going, the route they intended to take and their expected time of return.

The consulate warned against sharing unverified photographs, names, videos, voice notes or allegations purporting to identify suspects or connect unrelated incidents.

It said spreading unverified information could interfere with ongoing investigations, expose innocent people to harm and hinder law-enforcement efforts.

The mission stressed that the advisory was not intended to cause panic or restrict Nigerians’ lawful movement, but to provide information that could help community members take reasonable precautions while investigations continued.

It also emphasised that the recommended safety measures should not be interpreted as shifting responsibility for preventing violence onto women or replacing effective policing, investigation and accountability.

The consulate expressed sympathy to the families and relatives of the deceased women and urged anyone with credible information relevant to the cases to report it directly to SAPS instead of posting it on social media.

The mission said it would continue monitoring the situation while working with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and relevant South African authorities.

SAPS emergency services can be reached on 10111, while anonymous information can be provided through Crime Stop on 08600 10111. The mobile emergency number is 112, and information can also be submitted through the MySAPS application.

For Nigerians directly affected by a serious incident, the consulate provided its community line, +27 62 764 2412, and email address, cgijhb@nigerianconsulatesa.org.