50-YEAR-OLD NIGERIAN MAN PASSES AWAY IN POLICE CUSTODY IN SOUTH AFRICA

January 18, 2025

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A 50-year-old Nigerian, Jeremiah Okoye, passed away while being held in police custody in Limpopo, South Africa.

Okoye had lived in South Africa for 22 years and was residing at 71 Magazyn Street, Polokwane, at the time of his tragic death.

Frank Onyekwelu, the President of the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA), confirmed the incident on Friday. He condemned the ongoing police brutality against Nigerians in South Africa and called on authorities to uphold the rule of law.

“Investigations are ongoing as to what led to his untimely death,” Onyekwelu said. “We implore the police authorities to follow the rule of law in discharging their constituted duties.”

Onyekwelu revealed that Nigeria’s High Commission and Consulate in South Africa had been informed of the incident.

He expressed concern about the recurring deaths of Nigerians in police custody, urging South African authorities to address what he called a “dangerous pattern.

“We hope that his death will not become a statistic like others before it. The death of Nigerians in South Africa, particularly under police custody, has become a recurring issue that needs to be stopped,” the NICASA president said.

Okoye, a native of Ezinifite Nnewi in Anambra State, Nigeria, had been living in South Africa for many years.