News
XENOPHOBIA! Nigerian man burnt to death in South Africa [Photo]
A Nigerian man, Clement Nwaogu, was burnt alive on Sunday, by a mob in the latest xenophobia attack in South Africa.
This was made known by the Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Union in South Africa, Mr Habib Miller.
Miller, who confirmed the killing from Pretoria in a telephone interview with NAN in Port Harcourt on Monday, said the victim, a native of Njikoka in Anambra and an upholsterer in South Africa, was attacked and killed by a mob in Rustenburg, North West Province.
He said the victim was murdered in cold blood over his accent and habit, which the mobsters supposedly found offensive.
He said,
“The mob descended on him like a common criminal with all sorts of dangerous weapons in the presence of South African police officers.
“Eyewitnesses say the victim beckoned for help from the police to intervene and help him, but they turned a blind eye.
“When Nwaogu could no longer persevere, he ran for safety; the mob chased and caught him, poured petrol on him and set him ablaze.”
Miller said that the mob then left Nwaogu when they thought he had died, but shortly after they had left, some passersby called emergency personnel, who later took him his charred body to the hospital.
He said,
“The eyewitnesses feeling that the victim was still alive called for help; unfortunately, Nwaogu could not survive the ordeal and died at Job Shimankane Hospital in Rustenburg.”
Miller further stated that 14 Nigerians, who protested the killing of a fellow citizen in that country’s North West Province in February are still in detention.
He said the police officers murdered the Nigerian in cold blood on December 17 after failing to extort money from the victim.
Miller said that the police officers had since been released on bail while those who protested the killing were still languishing in detention.
He said,
“Our legal team is doing everything possible to facilitate the release of the protesters.
“We are worried that nothing has been done by the Nigerian government to stop the killings.
“We once again call on the Nigerian mission in South Africa to do the needful urgently because things are getting out of hand.
“The union with its legal desk will follow up the matter with the appropriate institutions until justice prevails.”
The deceased who is married to a South African woman has two children.
The killing of Nwaogu follows the extra-judicial killing of another Nigerian, ThankGod Okoro, 30, by the South African Police Flying Squad.
Okoro, a native of Ogbaku in Awgwu Local Government Area of Enugu, was shot dead at Hamburg, Florida West Rand, Johannesburg on April 9.
Records show that no fewer than 118 Nigerians have been killed in South Africa since February 2016.
See photo below:
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