Outgoing South African High Commissioner, Kingsley Mamabolo has assured Nigerians that the South African government would investigate the recent killing of a Nigerian in South Africa.
The Nigerian, Obinna Ugboaja, was reportedly killed on 5th January by Police on the allegation that he swallowed drugs on arrest, according to the account given by Mojeed Biobaku, Secretary of Nigeria Union Western Cape in Johannesburg.
Mamabolo gave the assurance in Abuja while addressing Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the chairperson of the Federal House of Representatives Committee on the Diaspora Affairs.
“The South African government would look into the reported case of the Nigerian killed in South Africa,” he said, blaming the protest in South Africa on the matter to lack of adequate information and wrong perception.
“A lot of times, stories such as this were based on lack of information and wrong perception. Constant interaction between Nigeria and South Africa as well as citizens of the two countries would minimise the misinformation and wrong perception. If South Africa and Nigeria come together, they will be giants of Africa.”
He stressed the need for collaboration between Nigeria and those in the Diaspora especially in South Africa to minimise any form of protest or crisis in the future.
Mamabolo, whose tenure as High Commissioner in Nigeria expires on Wednesday, assured Nigerians that South Africa would not condone injustice.
“This latest case will be properly investigated and there would be no cover up,” he said. “There is no special law in South Africa for citizens and non-citizens alike. The law is equal for anybody.”
Speaking earlier, Abike Dabiri-Erewa expressed concerns of the committee with the killing, saying it must be properly investigated so that justice would be served. She argued that it is necessary to create awareness for the younger South Africans on the role that Nigerians played during the apartheid struggle, saying “If they knew the role Nigerians played in the apartheid struggle in South Africa, the hostilities to Nigerians will be reduced.”
Advising Nigerians living abroad to be law-abiding in their respective countries of residence, she said that more Nigerians in South Africa are excelling than those getting into trouble.
It will be recalled that members of Nigerian community in Western Cape, South Africa staged a protest in Cape Town on Friday, January 18, against the alleged killing of a Nigerian by the South Africa Police while in custody.
Mojeed Biobaku, Secretary of Nigeria Union Western Cape who spoke in Johannesburg said “on January 5th, Obinna was arrested by the Police on the allegation that he was in possession of drug; the Police claimed that he tried to swallow the drug when arrested.
“The victim was forcefully put in the Police vehicle and assaulted inside the Police van and at the police station. Thirty minutes after his arrest, Obinna died in Police custody.”
“When we heard about his death, and as members of Nigeria Union, we went to the police station to make inquiry,” he said, “but we were told that the case had already been reported to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).”
He pleaded for an end to unnecessary assaults and attack on Nigerians by the South African Police, saying the perpetrators must be punished and an independent autopsy conducted to determine the cause of Obinna’s death.
