Nigerians in South Africa, under the umbrella body Nigerians Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA), have protested the reported death of a colleague, Jeremiah Offorbike Okoye. They also demanded justice for the late Okoye.
50-year-old Okoye was reported to have died while in police custody in Limpopo, South Africa, on Monday, January 13, 2025.
A statement by the president of NICASA, Frank Onyekwelu, said the Nnewi, Anambra State-born Okoye, has been living in South Africa for the past 22 years.
Onyekwelu said the cause of his death was yet to be ascertained.
He, however, urged the African police to follow due process in the discharge of their duties.
He stated: “With deep sorrow, the NICASA National executives wish to announce the death of Late Mr. Jeremiah Offobike Okoye, 50yrs old, a native of Eziniffite Nnewi Anambra state Nigeria, who lost his life while in the custody of police authority in Limpopo on Monday, 13th of January, 2025.
“Investigations are ongoing as to what led to his untimely death.
“We implore the police authorities to follow the rule of law in discharging their constituted duties.
“Late Mr. Jerry, who resides at 71 Magazyn Street Polokwane Limpopo Province, South Africa, hails from Eziniffite Nnewi in Anambra State, Nigeria.
He`s been living in South Africa for the past 22 years.
“NICASA executives have also made contact with the victim’s family and friends in Limpopo. Our High Commission and Consulate have been officially informed, and actions are currently carried out in this regard.
“We, the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA), say no to police brutality and killings, demanding justice for the late Mr Jerry. Our lives matter, nationality is not criminality.
“We implore all our citizens to be law abiding and allow the government authorities to utilize all their resources to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of Mr Jeremiah. 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. We fear that the recurring deaths of Nigerians in police custody, if unchecked, will become a dangerous pattern.”
