Nigeria demand answers as anoda citizen kpai for police custody for South Africa
Wia dis foto come from, Brenton Geach/Gallo Images via Getty Images
Nigeria dey demand for investigation and answers about di death of one of dia citizens, afta di Nigerian consulate claim say South African police officers arrest and torture am until e kpai for dia hand.
According to one statement by di Nigerian Consulate General for Johannesburg on Tuesday, di victim wey im name na Odueze Chimezie Odueze, kpai on 9 October for Parklands, Cape Town, for South Africa.
Di consulate tok say police bin arrest di victim for one shopping centre as dem suspect say e carry drugs, and dem follow am go im house to search am, but dem no see any drugs, den as dem dey torture am, e kpai.
Di circumstances of di death and di allegations against di police neva dey independently verified by di BBC.
Di consulate say di incident na "one too many" and dem call on South African authorities to investigate thoroughly and prosecute anyone wey dey responsible for di crime.
"No matter wetin di allegations fit be, e get processes and steps to justice," di statement tok.
"Evribodi suppose dey granted fair hearing for court of law and nobody suppose take laws into dia own hands."
Di statement also ask Nigerians for South Africa to remain calm, obey di law and dey alert to dia security, for di middle of concerns ova attacks and threats against foreign nationals.
'E suddenly start to vomit' - SA Police tok
Meanwhile, di South Africa police don release statement wia dem claim say, di victim bin just start to dey vomit suddenly afta police search am, and e die bifor dem fit give am any help.
"On 9 October 2026, at around 07h10, members of AGU (Anti-Gang Unit), Crime Intelligence, Metro K9 Unit and SANDF (South African National Defence Force), bin dey on joint operation wen dem receive information on one person of interest.
"Dem proceed go Wood Drive for Table View and pull ova one 49-year-old man, and dem inform am of warrant wey dem get to search im flat.
"Dem allegedly search im car, and dem no find anything, and dem proceed go im flat wia dem allegedly find drugs.
"E allegedly tell di members say e wan tok but im no trust police officers. Three SANDF members bin dey for di flat wit am wen he allegedly start to dey vomit.
"Dem transport am to hospital but dem declare am dead on arrival.
"Dem report di incident to IPID for investigations and investigations still dey go on."
Dis incident dey come at a time wen tensions dey veri high between Nigeria and South Africa ova di safety of Nigerians and allegations of abuse by South African security personnel.
For July, Nigeria bin condemn di death of two of dia citizens for separate incidents.
Emeka Charles Iroegbu bin allegedly kpai for di hands of di Tshwane Metro Police officers for Pretoria, while Musa Yunana Joe bin kpai after some jaguda pipo bin attack am for Witbank.
Nigeria don also call for investigations into oda deaths wey involve dia citizens and South African security personnel.
Dis latest case dey come on top plenty anti-immigrant protests and threats against foreign nationals wey don add to concerns about dia safety for South Africa.
Di Nigerian consulate tok say e go continue to press for di fair treatment of dia citizens, and e no go stop to dey insist say "Nigerian and all lives matter".
E also express condolences to Odueze family.
Timelines of Nigerians wey don die for South Africa in 2026
- February 2026: Dem kill Emeza Uzor for Ekurhuleni in South Africa.
- April 2026: Tshwane Metro Police kill Nnaemeka Ekpenyong for Pretoria in South Africa.
- June 2026: Two Nigerians die during anti-migrant protest, Tshwane Metro Police for Pretoria torture Emeka Charles Iroegbu, while Musa Yunana Joe (Big Joe) die afta some mobs attack am in front of im shop for Witibank, Mpumalanga in South Africa.
- July 2026: One Nigerian national, Ibeh Chika Simon kpai for South African police hand for one South African Police Service Operation wey happun for 23 July for Cape Town.
- September 2026: Dem kill five Nigerians including Bishop Taiwo Michael Fakunle and Mr James Uchechukwu wey dem kill for September 4 for South Africa and Kenechukwu Christopher Igwemmadu, Olaniyi Olaleye Olatunde and Christian Hillary Nnaemeka wey die between 18 and 21st of September.
Nigerian and all lives matter -Nigeria consulate for Johannesburg
Nigeria consulate for Johannesburg don ask South Africa make dem make sure say Nigerians and oda foreign nationals dey safe in di kontri as dia position remain say "NIGERIAN AND ALL LIVES MATTER".
Nigeria govment tok say di continuous repetition of dis incident come be like say na 'pattern to target Nigerians for South Africa.'
"On dis matter, we go continue to dey call on di South African authorities to investigate di deaths throoughly and bring di people wey commit dis gruesome act to justice. Our position remain say NIGERIAN AND ALL LIVES MATTER."
"If any allegation dey, no matter wetin di allegations, dem suppose follow due process to get justice. Evribodi suppose dey innocent and make dem get fair hearing for court. No one suppose take law into im own hand."
Nigeria govment don ask Nigerians for South Africa make dem 'remain calm, law-abiding and security conscious in di midst of di ongoing xenophobic/afrophobic attacks, threats of attacks, general insecurity and ill-treatment wey dey happun among black African foreigners for South Africa, especially Nigerians.'
