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Another two Nigerians have been killed in South Africa.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the latest killings bring the number of Nigerians killed in the former apartheid enclave since February, 2016 to 118.
The Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Union in South Africa Mr. Habib Miller told NAN in a telephone interview from Pretoria identified the latest victims as Francis Ochuba, a native of Ngodo community in the Umnneochi Local Government Area of Abia State and Chidi Ibebuike, from Uturu in the Isikwuato Local Government Area also in Abia State.
800,000 Nigerians, mostly young people, reside in South Africa, according to unofficial estimates.
“Ochuba, a property owner, was shot dead alongside his estate agent, a female South African on May 5, as they visited the tenant occupying Ochuba’s house to collect rent.
“The incident occurred in Central Johannesburg and Ibebuike was shot dead at the entrance to his house at Hazyview in Mpumalanga on May 13.
“Ibebuike’s car was subsequently, snatched by the gunmen.
Miller said the latest killings came on the heels of the murder of ThankGod Okoro, a native of Ogbaku in the Agwu Local Government Area of Enugu State on April 9 and that of Clement Nwaogu, who hailed from Njikoka in Anambra State on April 22.
He noted that Okoro was reportedly shot dead by a member of the South African Police Flying Squad at Florida in Johannesburg while Nwaogu was burnt alive by a mob in Rustenburg in the North West Province.
The spokesman said a violent group in Rustenburg had earlier given Nigerians notice to vacate the area or get killed.
He said since the order was issued, there had been numerous cases of Nigerians being kidnapped with ransom paid to their abductors.
14 Nigerians who protested the killings were attested and detained since January 21 in Rustenburg.
“The extra-judicial killing of Nigerians in South Africa is, however, a stark contrast to the general goodwill and protection South Africans and their businesses enjoy in Nigeria.
“While South African companies transfer billions of dollars in profit made from doing business in Nigeria, Nigerians in South Africa are sending body bags of murdered breadwinners back home to Nigeria to dejected families,” Miller said.
Courtesy News Agency of Nigeria
