₦airaland Forum

Eastern Cape protest turns violent with stabbing, cars torched over 'Nigerian King' coronation

Chaos erupted in KuGompo City, in the Eastern Cape, on Monday as cars were set ablaze and property vandalised after a man was allegedly stabbed during a protest against the reported coronation of a Nigerian national as king.

The situation is so serious that fire services have been dispatched to the scene, while police are using teargas to disperse the crowd.

The protest, which started peacefully, comes after videos and images of Chief Solomon Ogbonna Eziko being crowned ‘Igwe Ndigbo’ in the city, formerly East London, went viral.

Several groups, including ActionSA, the Patriotic Alliance, civic movement March and March, and several traditional leaders, have joined the demonstration, condemning the ceremony as unlawful.

Police spokeswoman Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed that police had responded to the scene.

"The protest began as a planned peaceful demonstration by various traditional leaders over the alleged coronation of an Igbo king," she said.

"Violence broke out when some participants moved away from the city hall, where a petition was being handed over.

"Twelve vehicles have been damaged, and several buildings have been torched.

"Emergency services, including the fire department, remain on the scene, along with the Public Order Policing Unit.

"This is an active scene, and updates information will be shared in due course."

A man was allegedly stabbed in the back by a foreign national and taken to the hospital.

Gantana said the man was not part of the march.

"The stabbed person is not linked to the march," she said.

March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, however, said on Facebook that it was one of her members who had been stabbed.

She said the member was also knocked down by a car.

ActionSA Eastern Cape leader Athol Trollip previously told IOL there was no constitutional provision for any foreigner, legal or illegal, to coronate themselves in the Eastern Cape.

"We do not support that," he said.

"We support the existing local kings in the Eastern Cape, of which we have five, and no Nigerian kings.”

PA spokesperson Steve Motale said: "We condemn that fake coronation.

"We are happy that even the Nigeria High Commissioner in SA has also condemned it."

The Royal House of AbaThembu, in a statement to IOL, previously denied reports on social media that King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo welcomed and granted royalty to the Nigerian national.

He said he was not involved.

AbaThembu royal ambassador and senior royal advisor Adv Matthew Mpahlwa said the claims come from “sick and depraved minds".

"The Royal House of AbaThembu wishes to distance itself from the trending social media posts and pictures purporting to portray King Dalindyebo as welcoming and officially granting royalty to a particular Nigerian national," Mpahlwa said at the time.

https://iol.co.za/news/2026-03-30-update-eastern-cape-protest-turns-violent-with-stabbing-cars-torched-over-nigerian-king-coronation/

https://punchng.com/violence-erupts-in-south-africa-over-igbo-traditional-rulers-coronation/?utm_source=auto-read-also&utm_medium=web&amp

Yes South Africans are very xenophobic people. But this action of Igbo king in their land poured 1 gallon of petrol on their xenophobia.
Igbos in diaspora should calm down. You should read your environment before installing Eze Ndigbo anywhere.
Now another xenophobic madness that will take lives, injure many and destroy lots of properties.

Why are our brothers from the East like pouring fuel into fire. You can do those things in Nigeria and go scot free but not in another man's land. This is the problem they are having with there host in Lagos.


Let there be peace

Waytin they save citizens of South Africa and even morroco be say their country is functional.

If not, some of them go be blacklist for some people country

Trending: Violence erupts in South Africa over Igbo traditional ruler’s coronation

Cc nlfpmod Fpmod seun

Check very well it’s sponsored by one sophisticated person

Chai, Igbophobia is real.

See this guys just believe in their country, them believe say no place better pass their country that's why them dey do this nonsense

Let my people will always say, them no dey travel

you can have a leader in another mans land but the word king is deep, and should be avoided especially in countries that are not tolerant like south africa

oxford dictionary meaning for king: the male ruler of an independent state, especially one who inherits the position by right of birth.

wikipedia: King is a royal title given to a male monarch. A king is an absolute monarch if he holds unrestricted governmental power or exercises full sovereignty over a nation.

Na peace loving igbos dis thing go affect now... Dis people don't like Nigerians and you are still giving them all d reasons in d world not to like us..kai

Just to distract Nigerians from the biggest event in Nigeria this month; defection of Kwankwaso to ADC.

Make una try harder, tribal bigots!


Like President like his supporters.



Who doesn't know that South Africans are xenophobic Mzamzi losers?

Dem don export their stupidity reach south Africa again
I think say na Ghana own we dey find solutions to.
Always disgracing the country everywhere dey go.

May God grant Igbo their Biafra.

Our Nigerian brothers from that area naturally don't know what royalty means.
That is why they crown or bestow the title of kingship (Igwe) on anyone who can donate 2 cartons of beer and a goat for pepper soup.

Some people can tolerate it,
Others won't.

Now, all other immigrants are suffering at the hands of these lazy South African youths.

Honestly as an Igbo man I like what South Africans are doing. Let them come back home if they can't hear a simple instruction

South africa don dey Ronu

They will blame it on Tinubu and Yoruba as usual

But why is it always those people. Because am sure there is Yoruba villa is Brazil, US,UK, France and even Spain. God have mercy on ur children. Why can't you respect your host for peace sake.

I know this isn't technically funny but I laughed out loud when I read this

Must they have kings every where they go? The same thing happened in Ghana

Don’t fret ya’ll. Isreal will come to your aid

I don't know what the madness going to a stupid nation like the HIV infested country to install a kind of this madness??
People who are very lazy and fond of hating success you were prospering Among them then what is the essence of having a king in another man's country.
Go to your land and install your king.

OOOKEWALE:
Must they have kings every where they go? The same thing happened in Ghana

Funny thing is that they don't even know what a KING is.
They have no idea.

Since they don't know, they abuse it.

masterfactor:
Why are our brothers from the East like pouring fuel into fire. You can do those things in Nigeria and go scot free but not in another man's land. This is the problem they are having with there host in Lagos.


Let there be peace

So Nigerians host other Nigerians in Nigeria!
You are a big joke,until Nigerians accept that we all are tired of this contraption and geographical location called Nigeria and go our separate ways,then we are not serious.

A dog is a dog, irrespective of what name you give it.
No matter the colour South Africans give a protest, there will always be that xenophobia colour ready to be used for painting everywhere in violence, destruction, looting and killings.

Igbos Make una do well... seems na una and Trump and Israel wan start world war 3, I see why una dey always run to him😹

Funkyswagzz:
Honestly as an Igbo man I like what South Africans are doing. Let them come back home if they can't hear a simple instruction

hmmm. Bro, but why is all this for God save. They should try respect those people. We know culture is very important, but respect need to be given to the host... As a Yoruba I know there is a Yoruba town and villa in Brazil, UK, US,Spain and even France. Those white also come to osun osogbo festival as well. In as much we try to preserve tradition, let try respect our host.. God bless you.

You go tell them truth for this thread now, next thing... Booom... Marginalization and Gaslighting.

Treat others the way you want to be treated.
Don't try in other people's land what you won't allow in your land.
Life is very simple, it's really not that complicated.