Jeremiah Okoye, a 50-year-old Nigerian man, died while in police detention in Limpopo, South Africa.
Okoye, who had been in South Africa for 22 years, lived at 71 Magazyn Street in Polokwane until his death.
The President of the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA), Frank Onyekwelu, confirmed the incident in a statement on Friday, criticizing what he characterized as ongoing police violence against Nigerians in South Africa and demanding authorities to follow 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 stated that Nigeria’s High Commission and Consulate in South Africa had been notified of the occurrence.
He voiced worry at the recurring deaths of Nigerians in police custody, pushing South African authorities to address what he described as 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.
