The Nigerian mission in South Africa has expressed dismay on the killing of Ebuka Okori, a 27-year-old native of Umunze, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra.
Mr Okori was allegedly killed by two members of the South African Police Service (SAPs) on January 19, in Durban, Kwazulu Natal Province of South Africa.
Godwin Adama, Nigeria`s Consul General in South Africa, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the telephone from Johannesburg, on Monday that the mission frowned at such barbaric act.
“We condemn in strong terms, the barbaric act and call on the South African authorities to intervene and put an end to this ugly trend.
“We also call on our nationals to continue to be law abiding as we work towards obtaining justice for the family of the deceased,” Mr Adama said.
The envoy said that the culprits have been arrested and arraigned in court in Durban on January 22.
He said that consular officers from the Nigerian Consulate General, Johannesburg and the Nigeria High Commission, Pretoria were in Durban to witness the court proceeding.
“While we await the outcome of the judicial proceedings, we want to appeal for calm and rectitude among our nationals in the affected areas,” he said.
Adama also said that the mission was investigating the cause of the death of another Nigerian in Rustenburg, North West Province.
He said that the mission had intervened on behalf of 17 Nigerians arrested by the Police in Rustenburg for public disturbance and possession of dangerous weapons.
He said that the police arrested the Nigerians for being rowdy and violent at their station and would charge them to court.
“I am in touch with the police and appealing to them to safeguard the lives of Nigerians from attacks by the locals,” he said.
Adama said that officers from the mission would visit Rustenburg on Tuesday to see Nigerians and government officials to douse the situation in the area.
He said that the police had appealed to Nigerians to remain calm as they were on the trail of those attacking them.
Taxi drivers in Rustenburg recently went on the rampage and destroyed more than four shops and houses owned by Nigerians.
The drivers alleged that Nigerians sold drugs to a gang who attacked their members and that a Nigerian abducted and raped a 16-year-old South Africa girl.
The Nigerian Union said that the allegations were false and spurious. They said that after investigation, no Nigerian had been arrested for the offences.
