Nigerians have taken to social media to express displeasure over the alleged killing of a compatriot, Chika Ibe, by officers of the South African Police Service.

The Peoples Gazette earlier reported that Mr Ibe, who hailed from Lokpaukwu in Abia State, was reportedly killed during a police operation on Thursday at the Parksig Villas Complex in Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa. https://gazettengr.com/xenophobia-outrage-as-nigerian-chika-ibe-allegedly-tortured-to-death-by-south-african-police/

A video from the same incident which resulted in Mr Ibe’s death also showed another Nigerian national badly injured in the mouth during the police operation.

Reports said Mr Ibe died after he was subjected to severe beating, torture, inhuman treatment and alleged suffocation.

Videos reviewed by this newspaper on Friday showed Mr Ibe’s body being carried into a police van in a body bag, with voices lamenting about the victim’s alleged killing and some Nigerians later gathered to condemn the killing.

One of the mourners said, “Your African brother, see where you people end his life. End his life in plastic. For what? Is it hatred? Look at him. Let us clap for you guys, thank you very much. The mission is finished.”

The incident has since triggered reactions among several Nigerians with some taking to social media to decry the development.

A Facebook user, Onyeka Ayoojunior Emmanuel, faulted President Bola Tinubu for not taking decisive actions regarding the continued xenophobic attacks suffered by Nigerian nationals in South Africa.

“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu You’ve failed yourself, and this country in all ways. How can this be happening and you haven’t even addressed this issue, huh! Resign, go and enjoy your old age in peace. Everything is politics to you people. Horrible,” he said.

An Instagram user, @oriazowand, said he expected Mr Tinubu’s administration to cut diplomatic ties with the South African government, as well as suspend the South Africa ambassador to Nigeria over repeated deaths of Nigerians in the country.

“By now I expect the Nigeria government to close all diplomatic ties with South Africa and to suspend the South Africa ambassador to Nigeria,” the user said.

Another Nigerian angry over the incident, @binuju, expressed concern over the lack of punitive actions against South African businesses in Nigeria.

She said “I wonder why nothing has been done to their businesses in Naija abi shey na juju our leaders dey use ni. We’re so calm.”

Another Instagram user, @itemebob, called on the federal government to protect documented Nigerians in South Africa.

He stated that Nigerian nationals should be allowed to live in the country since South Africans live and do business peacefully in Nigeria.

“Nigerian Government should do something about this. If they have built businesses for themselves and live in South African legally no one has the right to ask them to leave. South Africans are living peacefully in Nigeria and doing big businesses in peace. The actions of these people show that their government backs what they’re doing. We must take immediate action as a country,” he said.

Also reacting, @fikunademii called for consequential action by the Nigerian government against the arbitrary killing of Nigerians in South Africa.

She stated that until there were consequences for killings, avoidable deaths would not end.

“The pattern is clear and repeated. The authorities will promise an investigation, and the family will get little justice. The Nigerian government should be applying serious diplomatic pressure, not just issuing statements.

“Until there are real consequences for these killings, they will keep happening. The victim had a name and a home, and his death is a failure of two nations to protect him,” she added.

The Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA) also condemned the killing of Mr Ibe by officials of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and demanded a prompt investigation into the incident.

“Mr Chika Ibe, who hailed from Lokpaukwu, Abia State, Nigeria, reportedly died after being subjected to severe beating, torture, inhuman treatment, and alleged suffocation during a police operation,” NICASA President, Frank Onyekwelu, said.

“These allegations are deeply disturbing and, if confirmed, constitute a gross violation of human rights and the rule of law.”

Mr Onyekwelu called on the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) and the leadership of SAPS to immediately institute an independent, transparent and comprehensive investigation into the incident.

He stated, “Every officer found responsible must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. There can be no justification for torture, excessive force, or the unlawful taking of human life.”