South African Cops Arraigned For Torturing Nigerians
According to the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg, 4 South African police officers are accused of torturing a Nigerian national.
This occurs just a few days after two Nigerian citizens were allegedly killed in the capital of South Africa amid an increase in attacks on foreigners there.
The accused were detained by South Africa’s Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) on February 1 at the Boksburg North Police Station, according to Elizabeth Wale-Ayodele, a representative of the Nigerian Consulate.
The name of the Nigerian national who was allegedly beaten into a coma by the suspects was withheld by Wale-Ayodele.
“Two weeks ago, on January 9, 2023, four police officers attacked a Nigerian in Boksburg.
“We received this at the consulate, and Mr. Andrew Idi, the consul general, came right away to see the victim two weeks ago.
“Even though the victim complained of having kidney problems, he (the victim) was assaulted and severely battered. He went into a coma and spent nine days there.
“So, the CG came to see him after he got out of the coma, and we opened the case with IPID. The matter has been followed up on by the consulate up until this point,” according to Wale-Ayodele.
She noted that representatives of the consulate were present when IPID, the South African police watchdog, made the arrest.
“We are pleased that justice was served. On this, the consulate had been working day and night. We are pleased with the outcome,” she continued.
The suspects will be charged with assault with the purpose to cause great bodily harm at the Boksburg Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, February 2, according to IPID spokesman Lizzy Suping.
Suping did point out that the victim had been arrested after the police demanded his identifying documents and he failed to comply.
She continued by saying that the victim, who spent nine days in a coma, was attacked and tormented by the accused while she was being held in custody.
