• NICASA
• Nigerians in South Africa
• Police brutality

DEATHS IN POLICE CUSTODY SPARK OUTRAGE AMONG NIGERIAN COMMUNITY IN SOUTH AFRICA

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  Nicolas Adekeye / 4 weeks
• 0
• 1 min read

A devastating pattern of fatalities in police custody has emerged in South Africa, with the recent death of 40-year-old Nigerian national Benjamin Okoli sparking widespread outrage. This tragedy comes on the heels of another suspicious death in custody, that of 50-year-old Jeremiah Okoye, just a few weeks prior. According to eyewitness accounts, Okoli was subjected to brutal treatment by police officers, who stopped and searched him before taking him to his residence for further inspection. Despite finding no evidence of wrongdoing, the officers allegedly tortured and assaulted Okoli, leaving him in a coma from which he never recovered. The Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA) has vehemently condemned the senseless killing, with President-General Dr. Frank Onyekwelu demanding justice for the victims and their families. “The frequency and similarity of these deaths in police custody are deeply disturbing and warrant immediate attention from the authorities,” he said. Okoli’s untimely passing has left his wife and child bereft, and the Nigerian community in South Africa is reeling from the loss. As investigations into the circumstances surrounding Okoli’s death continue, NICASA is calling for greater accountability and transparency from law enforcement agencies to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.