The Nigerian Union in South Africa has condemned the killing of Prince Muoka Ebuka, a 43-year-old Nigerian national, by law enforcement officers in Danielskuil, Northern Cape, on May 17, 2024. This incident is part of a disturbing trend of police abuse targeting Nigerians in the Northern Cape, with similar cases reported in Kimberley and Johannesburg.
According to eyewitnesses and Ebuka’s wife, Joyce, law enforcement officers stormed their home, assaulted Ebuka, and pressured him to produce drugs. When nothing was found, they took him to a waste dump, accusing him of hiding illegal substances. Despite using drug detection methods, no drugs were discovered, and the intense interrogation led to Ebuka’s death.
The Nigerian Union in South Africa has raised concerns about the integrity of the investigation due to the improper preservation of the crime scene and the police’s refusal to issue a statement or allow the family to open a case docket. The union demands a thorough and impartial investigation into Prince Ebuka’s killing and the broader issue of police abuse in the Northern Cape.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission has also condemned the death, calling for a thorough investigation and accountability for those responsible. The commission notes that one death is too many and emphasizes the need for justice and protection for Nigerian nationals in South Africa.