OUTGOING South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Kingsley Mamabolo, has given an assurance that South Africa will look into the alleged killing of a Nigerian in the country.
Mamabolo made the promise in Abuja on Monday when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs met with him.
He said the South African Government would look into the matter and blamed the protest in South Africa over the issue to a lack of adequate information and wrong perception.
“A lot of times stories such as this are based on lack of information and wrong perception,’’ he said.
He said constant interaction between Nigeria and South Africa as well as citizens of both countries would minimise the misinformation and wrong perception.
“If South Africa and Nigeria come together, they will be giants of Africa,’’ he said.
He stressed the need for collaboration between Nigeria and those in the Diaspora, especially in South Africa, to minimise any form of protest or crisis in the future.
Mamabolo who leaves Nigeria on Wednesday, assured Nigerians that South Africa would not condone injustice.
“This latest case will be properly investigated and there would be no cover up. There is no special law in South Africa for citizens and non-citizens alike. The law is equal for anybody,’’ He said.
Earlier, Rep. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the Chairman of the Committee, said the committee wanted an investigation and justice on the matter.
The legislator stressed the need for awareness creation for young South Africans on the role of Nigerians in the apartheid struggle.
“If they know the role Nigerians played in the apartheid struggle in South Africa, the hostilities to Nigerians will be reduced,’ she said.
While advising Nigerians living abroad to be law abiding in their countries of residence, she said that more Nigerians in South Africa were excelling than those getting into trouble.
Members of Nigerian community in Western Cape, South Africa, staged a protest in Cape Town on Friday, Jan.18, over the alleged killing of a Nigerian by the South Africa police while he was in custody.
Mr. Mojeed Biobaku, the Secretary of Nigeria Union, Western Cape, told NAN, in Johannesburg that Mr. Obinna Ugboaja was killed on Jan. 5 by the police for allegedly swallowing drugs on arrest.
“On Jan. 5, Obinna was arrested by the police on the allegation that he was in possession of drugs; the police claimed that he tried to swallow the drug when arrested.
“The victim was forcefully put in the police vehicle and assaulted inside the police van and at the police station, 30 minutes after his arrest, Obinna died in the police custody,’’ Biobaku said.
He said members of Nigerian Union went to the police station on hearing about the victim’s death.
“When we heard about his death as members of Nigeria union we went to the police station to make inquiry but we were told that the case was already reported to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate.
“We want an end to unnecessary assaults and attack on Nigerians by the South Africa police. We want the perpetrators to be punished, we also want an independent autopsy to be conducted to determine the cause of Obinna’s death,’’ Biobaku said.