South African officials are probing the death of Ibeh Chika Simon, a 42-year-old Nigerian citizen who passed away while being detained by law enforcement in Cape Town. Preliminary findings from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) revealed that the deceased suffered multiple abrasions and bruises on his chest and back.
Western Cape police stated that Simon fell ill and collapsed during the apprehension process, leading to his death on the scene. Conversely, Nigerian Consul General Ninikanwa Okey-Uche expressed deep shock regarding the incident, denouncing what she described as excessive police force. She urged for a clear investigation into this matter and highlighted a recurring trend of unexplained deaths involving foreign nationals.
Furthermore, the Consul General mentioned reports concerning a second Nigerian, Egwabor Patrick Chuks, who allegedly sustained gunshot wounds during the same operation. Local police have denied having any record of this secondary incident. The operation itself reportedly involved the seizure of illegal narcotics and an unregistered firearm.
This case marks the second time in recent months that a Nigerian citizen has died during a police operation in South Africa, following the death of Emeka Charles Iroegbu in June. These recurring events have heightened diplomatic friction between South Africa and various West African nations, particularly regarding the safety of migrants. While the South African government remains firm in its rejection of xenophobic violence, officials from ECOWAS have publicly called for more robust protections for foreign individuals residing in the country.
