Nobody should kill Nigerians in South Africa— Jacob Zuma

The President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, yesterday, warned that no Nigerian citizen should be killed in any part of his country. Zuma was quoted to have made the statement in a release in Owerri, Imo State capital, by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Rochas Okorocha, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, after receiving the Imo Merit Award and signing of Memoranda of Understanding, MoU, between Zuma Foundation and Rochas Foundation of Africa.

Also in the release, Zuma said no South African citizen should be killed as he called for stronger partnerships between Nigeria and South Africa. This came as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has condemned the latest extra-judicial killing of another Nigerian, Ibrahim Olamilekan Badmus, aged 25, by South African Police, on October 3. According to the release by Imo government, “President of South Africa, Mr. Jacob Zuma, has said that a South African must not kill a Nigerian and a Nigerian must not kill a South African, adding that the relationship between both countries should be stronger than any other for the sake of the continent. “Africans must come together to address African problems. We are the same people. We cannot succeed if we handle problems as individuals. We need to recognise that we are one.” … as SA Police kill another Nigerian According to the Nigeria Consulate in South Africa, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, IPID, in South Africa has begun investigation into the killing of Badmus, the first time an independent unit will be conducting such an investigation.


 In a statement made available to newsmen yesterday, Mrs Dabiri-Erewa called on the South African authorities to ensure that the investigation is thorough and justice is done in the interest of the cordial relationship between the two countries. Dabiri-Erewa commended the efforts of the Consulate General, Godwin Adama, who immediately led a team to visit the scene of the incident  and interfaced with angry Nigerians to douse tensions. The killing of Badmus is coming barely three weeks after another Nigerian, Kingsley Ikeri, 27, was killed by the South Africa Police.

On the five injured Nigerians in the hospital, Dabiri-Erewa said the report from the Consulate revealed that it was as a result of the altercation with the South African Police, following a video clip that went viral on the killing of Badmus. “Let me appeal to Nigerians in South Africa to remain calm and avoid any further face off with the Police and await the outcome of the independent investigation on the latest killing,” she added.






Vanguard