The Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa, NICASA, has condemned the alleged brutal k!lling of a 50-year-old Nigerian citizen, Jeremiah Okoye, by the country’s police, while in their custody.
It was gathered that Okoye, a native of Ezinifite, Nnewi, in Anambra State d!ed while being detained in Limpopo Province, on January 13.
The President-General of NICASA, Frank Onyekwelu, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, on Friday, January 17, said investigations were ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the deceased’s d3ath.
“We implore the police authorities to follow the rule of law in discharging their constitutional duties,” he said.
According to him, Okoye, who resided at No. 71, Magazyn Street, Polokwane, Limpopo Province, had lived in the country for 22 years.
Onyekwelu said that NICASA had officially informed the Nigerian High Commission and Consulate in South Africa, as well as contacted the Okoye family and friends in Limpopo, following the sad incident.
“Nigerian citizens in South Africa say no to police brutality and killings and demand justice for the late Okoye. Our lives matter, nationality is not criminality.
“We implore all our citizens to be law-abiding and allow the authorities to utilise all their resources, to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of Okoye,” he added.
Onyekwelu expressed hope that Okoye’s d3ath would not become another statistic like others before him.