Nigerian shot dead in South Africa

Unknown assailants have shot and killed Monday Okorie, a Nigerian trader, based in Potchefstroom, North West Province of South Africa.

Ikechukwu Anyene, president of The Nigeria Union in South Africa, disclosed this to NAN on Thursday, saying the tragic incident occurred on Tuesday.

Anyene said the victim was an indigene of Agwu in Enugu state.

He said on receipt of the report, some national officers of the union travelled to the north-west province to investigate the incident.

Anyene said initial investigation showed that some unknown assailants shot and killed Okorie.

He said 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 added 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,” he said.

“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.”

The fresh case of death brings to 18, the total number of Nigerians killed in 2016 alone. Three of such deaths were recorded in July.