Another Nigerian, Benjamin Okoli, dies in South African police custody

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The Nigerian Citizens Association of South Africa (NICASA) has criticised the murder of a 40-year-old Nigerian, Benjamin Okoli, who purportedly died while in police custody.

Okoli’s terrible death comes less than a month after NICASA condemned the alleged murder of another Nigerian, Jeremiah Okoye, 50, while in police custody on January 13.

Dr Frank Onyekwelu, President-General of NICASA, told journalists that the repeated murders of Nigerians in South Africa are “unbearable.”

“The Nigerian community in South Africa is mourning yet another loss in police custody. Okoli, from Akpu in Orumba South, Anambra, was stopped, searched and taken to his house with his brother for further inspection,” Onyekwelu said.

He claimed that despite discovering no evidence, the officers tortured, battered, and brutalised the two brothers. Okoli apparently went into a coma as a result of the brutal assault, and his brother’s urgent attempts to resuscitate him were futile.

“The police stood by and watched as Okoli’s life slipped away. Paramedics later arrived and pronounced him dead,” Onyekwelu added.

NICASA was also concerned that Okoli died while investigations into Okoye’s death, which was reportedly carried out by the same police squad, were still ongoing.

“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.

NICASA executives in Limpopo Province are profoundly concerned about what they view as a troubling pattern of Nigerian people being targeted.

“We call on the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, IPID, to ensure the officers responsible for these gruesome deaths are brought to justice,” Onyekwelu urged.

The group has alerted the Nigerian missions in Pretoria and Johannesburg of the tragedy and is calling for diplomatic assistance to avert more fatalities.

“We appeal to our nationals to remain calm, law-abiding, and continue their daily activities peacefully,” Onyekwelu added.

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