NIGERIAN DIES DURING SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE ARREST AS XENOPHOBIA FEARS ESCALATE
Abuja Demands Transparent Probe; Second Nigerian Death During Police Operation Sparks Diplomatic Outrage
By Emeka Amaefula
With additional report from BBC
Fresh diplomatic tension has erupted between Nigeria and South Africa following the death of a Nigerian citizen, Ibeh Chika Simon, 42, who reportedly collapsed while being arrested by South African police during a law enforcement operation in Cape Town.
The incident, now under official investigation, has provoked outrage from the Nigerian Government and renewed concerns over the safety of African migrants living in South Africa amid recurring allegations of xenophobia, police brutality and extrajudicial killings.
Preliminary findings from a post-mortem examination released by South Africa’s Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) revealed that Simon sustained multiple bruises and abrasions on his back and chest before his death, raising fresh questions about the circumstances surrounding the arrest.
Western Cape Police maintained that officers conducting a search operation at a residence recovered an unlicensed firearm and substances suspected to be illegal drugs. Police spokesperson Colonel Andre Traut stated that Simon suddenly became unwell and collapsed while officers attempted to place him under arrest. Emergency medical personnel later pronounced him dead at the scene.
Reacting strongly, Nigeria’s Consul-General in Johannesburg, Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, condemned what she described as “egregious police tactics” and demanded an independent, transparent and credible investigation into the incident.
She warned that Simon’s death appeared to reinforce what she described as “an alarming pattern of unresolved extrajudicial killings, deaths and unacceptable misconduct against foreign nationals” in South Africa.
The Nigerian diplomat stressed that every suspect, irrespective of nationality, is constitutionally entitled to due process and a fair hearing before any court of competent jurisdiction.
She further disclosed that another Nigerian, Egwabor Patrick Chuks, allegedly sustained gunshot injuries during the same police operation and remains hospitalised in critical condition. However, the Western Cape Police said they had no official record of the reported shooting.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed deep concern over the incident. Speaking to the BBC, the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, described Simon’s death as “a very unfortunate situation” and reiterated Nigeria’s expectation that justice would be served through a transparent investigation.
The Independent Police Investigative Directorate has since opened a formal investigation into the incident.
South Africa’s Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration also confirmed that the matter was under investigation. Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, who chairs the committee, disclosed that police officers encountered resistance from some foreign nationals during last Thursday’s operation in Cape Town.
Simon becomes the second Nigerian to die during a South African police operation within weeks.
Earlier in June, another Nigerian, Emeka Charles Iroegbu, reportedly died under similar circumstances during a police operation. That incident is also being investigated by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.
The latest development has intensified growing diplomatic unease over repeated allegations that African migrants—particularly Nigerians—are increasingly becoming victims of xenophobic attacks and excessive use of force by security personnel in South Africa.
Diplomatic relations have also become strained between South Africa and Ghana following allegations that a Ghanaian national was killed during recent anti-migrant protests. Although South African authorities have denied the allegation, Ghana became the first African nation to repatriate some of its citizens following the unrest.
In another significant development, two Ghanaian nationals have petitioned the International Criminal Court (ICC), urging it to investigate what they describe as widespread and systematic attacks against foreign nationals in South Africa. They contend that the pattern of violence could amount to crimes against humanity.
The South African Government has dismissed the petition as opportunistic, insisting that its judicial institutions are capable of handling such matters and arguing that the allegations do not satisfy the legal threshold required for ICC intervention. The ICC has yet to indicate whether it will examine the petition.
Concern over the deteriorating situation has also resonated across West Africa.
At the recent summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Sierra Leone, regional leaders condemned reported attacks on African migrants in South Africa after Nigeria and Ghana formally raised the issue. The regional bloc urged South African authorities to take immediate and effective measures to guarantee the safety, dignity and protection of all foreign nationals residing within its borders.
Responding to the mounting criticism, the South African Government reaffirmed its commitment to constitutional democracy, declaring that it “categorically rejects xenophobia, racism, homophobia, intolerance and discrimination in all their manifestations.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa has repeatedly acknowledged public concerns surrounding illegal migration but has consistently appealed to citizens not to resort to mob action or vigilantism, emphasizing that law enforcement must always operate within the framework of the Constitution and the rule of law.
As investigations continue, both Nigeria and the wider international community are expected to closely monitor the outcome, with growing calls for accountability, justice and stronger safeguards for migrants living and working in South Africa.
Emeka Amaefula –+234(0)8111813069–
