The Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA) has condemned the alleged brutal killing of a 50-year-old Nigerian citizen, Jeremiah Okoye, by the country’s police while in their custody.

Mr Okoye, a native of Eziniffite Nnewi in Anambra, was said to have died while being detained in Limpopo Province on January 13.

NICASA president-general Frank Onyekwelu, in a telephone interview with journalists on Friday, said investigations were ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the deceased’s death.

“We implore the police authorities to follow the rule of law in discharging their constitutional duties,” he said.

Mr Onyekwelu said Mr Okoye, who resided at No. 71, Magazyn Street, Polokwane, Limpopo Province, had lived in the country for 22 years.

He said NICASA had officially informed the Nigerian High Commission and Consulate in South Africa and contacted Mr Okoye’s 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 said.

Mr Onyekwelu expressed hope that Mr Okoye’s death would not become another statistic like others before him.

“The death of Nigerians in South Africa, particularly under police custody, has become a recurring issue that needs to be stopped.

“We fear that these recurring deaths of Nigerians in police custody, if unchecked, will become a dangerous pattern,” he added.

(NAN)