The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of 50-year-old Jeremiah Okoye, who died while in police custody in Limpopo, South Africa, on January 13. Okoye, a Nigerian who had been living in South Africa for 22 years, was reportedly found dead under suspicious circumstances.
Frank Onyekwelu, President of the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), confirmed the incident and expressed concerns over the increasing cases of police brutality against Nigerians in South Africa. Onyekwelu called for a thorough investigation into the cause of Okoye’s death, urging Nigerian citizens to remain law-abiding as authorities work to uncover the facts.
“We fear that these recurring deaths of Nigerians in police custody, if unchecked, will become a dangerous pattern,” Onyekwelu stated, highlighting the need for justice and accountability. NiDCOM spokesperson Abdulrahman Balogun confirmed the commission’s awareness of the incident and stated that an investigation is underway.
The death of Okoye comes on the heels of a similar incident involving the death of a 37-year-old Nigerian, Julius Chukwunta, who was killed by a group of South African men in December 2024. Both cases have raised serious concerns about the safety of Nigerians in South Africa, particularly in police custody.