The Nigerian government says its dismay at the killing of Tochukwu Nnadi by Police in South Africa.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Senior Special Assistant to the Nigerian President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, says the alleged extra-judicial killing is ”worrying and condemnable”.
In her statement, Dabiri-Erewa said Nnadi’s death brought to 20 Nigerians killed in South Africa through extra-judicial means in 2016 alone.
“The barbaric behaviour of the perpetrators is not only unacceptable, but also calls for urgent attention by diplomatic authorities in Nigeria and South Africa,” she said.
“While appealing to Nigerians to avoid crimes, the extra-judicial killing of Nigerians is condemnable and unacceptable.
“My heart goes out to the families of the deceased and pray God to grant the departed soul eternal rest”.
The late Nnadi was allegedly choked to death by Police in South Africa on Thursday, December 29, 2016 after he was arrested for allegedly selling drugs.
According to eyewitnesses, the man, popularly known as King Kingsley, didn’t struggle with the police after his arrest. But one of the officers was alleged to have tightly held him by the neck before blood started gushing out.
Adetola Olubajo, Secretary of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, reacted by demanding “results of investigations of all murder cases involving Nigerian victims from the South African authority.’’
According to him, other victims of extra-judicial murders in the country included Ikejiaku Chinedu, Monday Okorie, Gideon Ogalaonye, Nnamdi Michael, Adeniyi Olumoko and Christian Onwukaike.
