Death in SAPS custody raises Nigerians’ ire
January 23 2013 at 11:57am
By Sisi Lwandle
By Sisi Lwandle
AFP
.
Cape Town - The Nigerian consul-general
in Cape Town, Okey Emuchay, has hit out at the police over the death of a
Nigerian in custody.
And he says this is “not the first time
Nigerians have been assaulted by members of the South African police”.
The death of Obinna Ugboaja in custody
on January 1 has angered the local Nigerian community.
Emuchay said they would follow up the
case and ensure justice was done.
“It is an unfortunate incident.”
He said the Nigerian consulate would
follow the incident and ensure that justice was done.
Jason Osuafor, former president of the
Nigerian Union in the Western Cape, said four Nigerians had died in SAPS
custody in the past two years, and he claimed none had been thoroughly
investigated.
Azubuike Okparaugo, current president
of the Nigerian Union in the province, said another Nigerian had been badly
beaten up by the police in Cape Town on January 5.
And he knew of two cases in Joburg
which involved police brutality against Nigerians.
Last Friday the local Nigerian Union
and Frontline Africa marched to Parliament demanding an end to police brutality
against foreigners.
Okparaugo believed the march had drawn
attention to the matter so that appropriate action could be taken.
According to the Independent Complaints
Directorate’s 2011/2012 annual report, 932 people died in police custody or as
a result of police action.
The Nigerian Union claimed that police
brutality against Nigerians was usually swept under the carpet because of the
false assumption that all Nigerians were criminals.
Police spokesman Captain FC van Wyk
declined to comment, other than to say an inquest docket had been opened into
Ugboaja’s death and the new Independent Police Investigative Directorate was
investigating the matter.
sibusisiwe.lwandle@inl.co.za
Cape Argus
