A 43-year-old Nigerian businessman, Ebuka Nwoko, has been allegedly killed by Police in Danielskuil, Northern Cape, South Africa.
Nwoko, who is popularly known as Jeff, was said to have been arrested by the South African Police Service (SAPS) over Sundry allegations.
It was learnt on Sunday that the businessman died while in the law enforcement agency’s custody.
The President-general of the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), Frank Onyekwelu, who condemned the alleged murder of the Nigerian, said Nwoko, who was popularly called Jeff, died inside police custody.
He said: “This death could have been avoided. We express profound disappointment in this avoidable action by men of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and demand a thorough investigation into this gruesome murder.
“South Africa is a democratic state. It is imperative that regardless of nationality, color or creed, people here should be treated with dignity and afforded full protection of the law, especially by law enforcement officers”, Onyekwelu added.
Citing section 11 of the South African Constitution, the NICASA president said foreigners living in the country have the right to life.
He reaffirmed the association’s readiness to work closely with South African authorities to promote peace, law, and order within the Nigerian community in South Africa.
“We acknowledge that the police in South Africa have a duty to enforce the law, but we vehemently oppose any action that will result in the loss of innocent lives,” he said.
Onyekwelu, who described the act as heinous, called for a quick investigation and arrest as well as prosecution of the perpetrators.
