By Peter Ejiofor, London
The Nigerian community in South Africa has again been thrown into mourning following the death of one of them, Mr Chika Aniuno.
TheNewsZenith gathered that the South African Police (SAP) operatives killed Aniuno during a raid on his residence on April 25.
The Nigeria Union South Africa (NUSA), umbrella body for the community, announced the incident on Saturday in a statement.
NUSA said that Aniuno, until his death, lived in Springs, East Rand of Gauteng.
Mr Habib Miller, National Publicity Secretary of the Union, signed the statement. He lamented that the latest killing was a clear pattern of brutality against Nigerians in that country.
“It serves as a grim reminder of persistent pattern of brutality that South African Police are inflicting on Nigerians.
“Eye witness accounts paint a harrowing picture of Aniuno’s ordeal as the Police tortured and suffocated him with a plastic bag. The suffocation tragically resulted in his death.
“The callous actions of officers involved, displayed a blatant disregard for human life and dignity. It further exacerbates the gravity of this reprehensible act,” the statement read in part.
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Miller stated that members of the union in the Gauteng chapter had reported that the Police claimed that Aniumo swallowed a substance leading to his death.
However, upon examining his body in the mortuary, members discovered that they had tampered with it.
“Initially, the Police refused to open a case docket, but they reversed the decision after a lawyer intervened.
“Efforts are currently being made to conduct an autopsy to determine the true cause of his death.
“We respectfully urged the Nigerian High Commission and Consulate in South Africa to call for investigation into the gruesome killing.
“We also urge the South African authorities to take decisive measures to address the systemic violence against Nigerians in South Africa.”
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