The Nigeria Union in South Africa said
on Thursday that a Nigerian petty trader, Monday Okorie, was killed in
Potchefstroom, North West Province of that country, on Tuesday. Mr Ikechukwu Anyene, the President of the Union, told the News Agency
of Nigeria (NAN) on phone from Pretoria, South Africa, that the victim
was an indigene of Agwu in Enugu State.
Anyene said that initial investigation showed that some unknown assailants shot and killed Okorie. He said that the incident had been reported to the South African Police Department and other government agencies.
According to Anyene, 20 Nigerians resident in the city were initially arrested by the police for protesting the murder and allegedly causing public violence. He said some of the Nigerians had been released after investigations while the nine charged to court were granted free bail.
Anyene said that initial investigation showed that some unknown assailants shot and killed Okorie. He said that the incident had been reported to the South African Police Department and other government agencies.
According to Anyene, 20 Nigerians resident in the city were initially arrested by the police for protesting the murder and allegedly causing public violence. He said some of the Nigerians had been released after investigations while the nine charged to court were granted free bail.
Anyene stated that the incident had been reported to the Nigerian
Mission in South Africa and had been assured that there would be
follow-up investigations.
“ Nigeria Union is satisfied with investigations done so far by the South African police. “Our people and government are not happy with the way cases involving
Nigerians in South Africa are being handled, vis-a-vis the high success
rate of prosecution of crime in South Africa.
“ We told Nigerians resident in the province to remain law abiding
and allow the police to carry out a thorough investigation of the
incident,” Anyene said.
