Less than a month after the death of a 50-year-old Nigerian, Jeremiah Okoye, in South African police custody on Jan. 13, the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA) has condemned the death of yet another Nigerian citizen, 40-year-old Benjamin Okoli, also in South African police custody.
NICASA President-General, Dr Frank Onyekwelu, described the curious deaths of Nigerians in South Africa as unbearable, during a midnight telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Okoli, from Akpu in Orumba South, Anambra, is survived by his wife and a child.
“The Nigerian community in South Africa is mourning yet another loss in police custody.
“Okoli was stopped, searched by police officers, and taken to his house with his brother for further inspection.
“In spite of finding nothing, the officers tortured, beat, and brutalised them. Okoli couldn’t withstand the assault and fell into a coma,” Onyekwelu said.
“His brother’s attempts to revive him failed while the police stood by and watched as Okoli’s life slipped away. Paramedics later pronounced him dead,” he added, lamenting that investigations into Okoye’s death were still on when Okoli died in similar circumstances, allegedly in the hands of the same police unit.
“This is the same group of officers accused of killing Okoye. Now, two Nigerians have died in police custody in less than a month,” Onyekwelu stated.
According to him, NICASA leaders in Limpopo are struggling to come to terms with the disturbing trend, which is increasingly targeting Nigerians in the province.
“We call on the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to ensure the officers responsible for these gruesome deaths are brought to justice,” he urged.
NICASA has informed the Nigerian Missions in Pretoria and Johannesburg about these disturbing incidents, in the hope the killings will stop.
“We appeal to our nationals to remain calm, law-abiding, and continue their daily activities peacefully,” Onyekwelu prayed.
