The Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA) has strongly condemned the tragic death of 40-year-old Benjamin Okoli, who reportedly died while in police custody. The incident, which has sparked outrage among Nigerians in South Africa, occurred barely a month after the alleged killing of another Nigerian, 50-year-old Jeremiah Okoye, in similar circumstances.
News of Okoli’s death was first reported by Sahara Reporters via its official X handle, further fueling concerns over the alarming pattern of Nigerians allegedly suffering brutality at the hands of South African law enforcement.
NICASA President-General, Dr. Frank Onyekwelu, described the deaths as “unbearable,” lamenting the rising number of Nigerians falling victim to alleged police brutality in South Africa. In a midnight telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Onyekwelu detailed the harrowing events that led to Okoli’s demise.
According to him, Okoli, a native of Akpu in Orumba South, Anambra State, was stopped and searched by police officers before being taken to his residence for further inspection. Despite finding nothing incriminating, the officers allegedly subjected Okoli and his brother to severe torture and beatings.
“Okoli couldn’t withstand the assault and fell into a coma. His brother’s desperate attempts to revive him proved futile, while the police officers stood by and watched as his life slipped away,” Onyekwelu revealed.
Paramedics later arrived at the scene and pronounced him dead.
Same Police Unit Accused of Okoye’s Death
Shockingly, Onyekwelu disclosed that Okoli’s death occurred at the hands of the same police unit accused of killing Okoye just weeks earlier.
“This is the same group of officers accused of killing Okoye. Now, two Nigerians have died in police custody in less than a month,” he stated.
NICASA leaders in Limpopo Province, where the incidents occurred, are struggling to come to terms with the distressing trend, which seems to disproportionately target Nigerians.
In light of these tragic events, NICASA has called on the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to swiftly investigate and prosecute the officers responsible.
“We demand that these gruesome deaths do not go unpunished. The officers involved must face the full wrath of the law,” Onyekwelu urged.
Furthermore, the association has officially informed Nigeria’s diplomatic missions in Pretoria and Johannesburg about the repeated deaths of its citizens in South African police custody.
While NICASA seeks justice, Onyekwelu also urged Nigerians in South Africa to remain calm, law-abiding, and go about their daily activities peacefully.
The recent spate of police-related deaths has reignited fears of targeted violence against Nigerians in South Africa, a country where xenophobic attacks have previously resulted in widespread loss of lives and property.
With tensions rising, many Nigerians are calling for stronger diplomatic intervention from the Nigerian government to ensure the safety and protection of its citizens abroad.
As investigations into Okoli and Okoye’s deaths continue, the Nigerian community in South Africa anxiously awaits justice, hoping that these tragic incidents will not be swept under the rug.
PIONEER NEWS 