The death of Benjamin Okoli, a 40-year-old Nigerian national, while in police custody has been denounced by the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA).
Less than a month has passed since NICASA denounced the purported murder of Jeremiah Okoye, a 50-year-old Nigerian who passed away on January 13 while in police custody.
Dr. Frank Onyekwelu, President-General of NICASA, described the unexplained deaths of Nigerians in South Africa as unbearable during a midnight telephone conversation with the News Agency of Nigeria.
Frank said, “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.
“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.
“This is the same group of officers accused of killing Okoye. Now, two Nigerians have died in police custody in less than a month.
“We call on the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to ensure the officers responsible for these gruesome deaths are brought to justice,” he stated.
These unsettling instances have been reported to the Nigerian Missions in Johannesburg and Pretoria by NICASA.