Union calls for intervention in latest killing of Nigerian in South Africa

Tue, Jun 26, 2018 | By publisher


Crime

THE Nigerian Union in South Africa (NUSA) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in Friday’s killing of another Nigerian in South Africa.

The Publicity Secretary of the union in South Africa, Mr Habib Salihu, made the appeal on Tuesday in an  interview with  the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on  telephone  from Pretoria, South Africa.

He said the victim, James Ekeh, 36, an indigene of Imo,  was killed at Mabopane Station near Pretoria by unknown assailants.

“Since Ebuka (another victim) was killed in Rustenburg more than two months ago without any arrest or prosecution, no fewer than  six Nigerians have been brutally murdered.

“These killings came without any meaningful intervention to bring the perpetrators to book irrespective of their nationality,’’ he said.

Salihu said that Ekeh, a tomato  trader at  Mabopane market in Pretoria,  was shot several times by unknown gunmen.

He said the victim was killed at the same spot where another Nigerian, Victor Onazi, was shot dead less than three weeks ago.

“Four other Nigerians were also shot dead in Johannesburg area less than two months ago.

“ This means that an average of one Nigerian is gunned down every week,’’ he added.

Salihu said that rage and animosity by Nigerians toward  South Africans might become uncontrollable if nothing was done to stop the  killings.

NAN reports that the latest killing of  Ekeh brings the number of Nigerians killed in the former apartheid enclave since February, 2016 to 119.

No fewer than 800,000 Nigerians, mostly young people, are believed to reside in South Africa. (NAN)

– Jun. 26, 2018 @ 11:49 GMT |

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