Another Nigerian, Mr. Benjamin Ekene Okoli has been reportedly killed in Limpopo, South Africa.
Okoli’s death is coming barely a month of reported gruesome murder of a 50 years old
Jeremiah Oforbike Okoye on 13th January 2025.
Both death are linked to police brutality and torture, a statement by Frank Onyekwelu,
President Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa, NICASA stated.
Onyekwelu noted that the 40 years old Okoli who hails from Anambra State lost his precious life while in police custody in Limpopo South Africa.
Narrating the story leading to the death of Okoli, an indigene of Akpu in Orumba South, NICASA President said he was stopped on the road by the police for a search after which he was taken to his house for search despite not finding any incriminating thing on him and in house, he was taken to custody, where he was further beaten and tortured.
He said Okoli who could not bear the torture went into coma before finally given up the ghost.
He said the Nigerian community has been thrown into mourning and are demanding justice for the murder of their colleagues.
He noted that the case has been reported to the Nigerian Missions in both Pretoria and Johannesburg.
Onyekwelu also called for calm while urging them to be law abiding as they go about their daily business.
According to Onyekwelu: “The Nigerian Community in South Africa is mourning, our hearts are bleeding as another Nigerian citizen lost his precious life while in police custody in Limpopo South Africa.
“Mr Benjamin Ekene Okoli was stopped, searched by police officials and was taken to his house with his brother for further search. The brothers were beaten and tortured leading to the death of Ekene.
“Upon finding nothing, they were tortured, beaten and brutalised by the police men, Mr Ekene couldn’t cope with the beating he went into a coma. Efforts by his brother to resuscitate his life proved abortive while the police stood and watched while Ekene’s life slipped to death. The paramedics pronounced him dead
“This is the same team of police officers that allegedly murdered another Nigerian late Mr Jeremiah Oforbike Okoye (50yrs old) whose death in police custody was reported earlier on 13th January 2025 making it two deaths of our nationals in about a month.
“Late Mr Benjamin Ekene Okoli hails from Akpu in Orumba South Anambra State. He is 40 yrs old; survived by his wife and child.
“NICASA provincial leaders in Limpopo are struggling to come to terms with this ugly incident which is gradually turning into a pattern of death for Nigerians especially in Limpopo Province. We are calling on the Independent Police Investigation Department (IPID) to leave no stone unturned in bringing to book the officers allegedly involved in this latest gruesome deaths of Mr Benjamin Ekene Okoli and 50yr old Jeremiah Oforbike Okoye who was allegedly killed by the cops on 13 January 2025.
“NICASA have informed the Nigerian Missions in Pretoria and Johannesburg of these ugly developments. We hope this gruesome pattern of deaths would be stopped to allow our citizens to live in peace and safety.
“We appeal to our nationals to be calm and law abiding while they go about their daily business.”
