The Nigerian Union of South Africa (NUSA) has refuted allegations by the South African Police Service of an attack by eight Nigerians on police officers in Kimberley, Northern Cape Province, on April 20, Daily Trust reports.
Union spokesman Habib Miller said the police allegations were false. In contrast, the Nigerian community in Kimberley has suffered a series of persecution and abuse at the hands of law enforcement.
The statement said the Nigerian Union of South Africa has persistently tried to get the local police to deal with these issues, but the situation has only worsened and Nigerians are facing robberies and assaults by police officers on an almost daily basis.
The organization described its version of what happened. Thus, according to NUSA, the police broke into a business premises, allegedly owned by a Nigerian, and beat the owner to the point that he has not yet recovered from his injuries.
There were two other Nigerians in the office who also suffered and were later arrested. Other compatriots who were nearby gathered at the noise.
After the incident, Nigerians gathered at the Indian Center but were asked by the police to disperse. The leader of this meeting was arrested, which caused a general outcry. To disperse the crowd, the police opened fire with rubber bullets, chased the fleeing participants and detained them.
A total of 10 Nigerians were detained in this way, the organization said in a statement. It is noted that none of the Nigerians resisted the police, but one of the detainees involuntarily broke the window of a police car with his hand during the confrontation and was injured. While he was detained, he was denied medical care.
The local leadership of the Nigeria Union held several meetings with the commander of Kimberley Police Station, who promised to resolve the problems.
Representatives of the organization also sent complaints of police brutality and cases of extortion to the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg and the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
A meeting of representatives of the police management, NUSA and other interested parties regarding the incident is scheduled for April 25. The Nigerian Union called on the South African authorities to carry out a thorough investigation into these incidents and ensure the rights and safety of all people, including Nigerians, living in South Africa.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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