The Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA) has strongly condemned the death of Benjamin Okoli, a 40-year-old Nigerian citizen, who died in police custody.
This incident comes less than a month after NICASA denounced the alleged killing of another Nigerian, Jeremiah Okoye, 50, who died in police custody on January 13.NICASA President-General, Dr. Frank Onyekwelu, described the recurring deaths of Nigerians in South African police custody as “unbearable”.
According to Onyekwelu, Okoli was stopped, searched, and taken to his house by police officers, who found nothing incriminating. Despite this, the officers allegedly tortured, beat, and brutalized Okoli and his brother.
Okoli fell into a coma and later died, with paramedics pronouncing him dead at the scene.
Onyekwelu noted that investigations into Okoye’s death were still ongoing when Okoli died under similar circumstances, allegedly at 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 said.
NICASA leaders in Limpopo are struggling to come to terms with the disturbing trend, which appears to be targeting Nigerians in the province.
The organization has called on the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to ensure that the officers responsible for these deaths are brought to justice.
NICASA has informed the Nigerian Missions in Pretoria and Johannesburg about these incidents and hopes that the killings will stop.
The organization has urged Nigerians in South Africa to remain calm, law-abiding, and to continue their daily activities while awaiting justice.
