South African authorities have opened an investigation into the death of a Nigerian man who collapsed while being arrested by police in Cape Town last week.
Preliminary post-mortem findings showed that 42-year-old Ibeh Chika Simon had sustained multiple bruises and abrasions to his chest and back, according to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, known as Ipid.
Western Cape police said Simon became unwell and collapsed as officers attempted to arrest him during an operation on Thursday. Paramedics were called, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police spokesperson Col Andre Traut said officers had been searching a property when they allegedly discovered an unlicensed firearm and substances believed to be drugs.
Nigeria’s consul general in Johannesburg, Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, said the Nigerian government was deeply concerned by reports surrounding Simon’s death and called for a transparent investigation.
She accused South African authorities of failing to adequately address what she described as a pattern of unresolved deaths and alleged misconduct involving foreign nationals.
“Suspects are entitled to due process in a court of law; no authority should be above it,” she said.
Okey-Uche also said another Nigerian national, Egwabor Patrick Chuks, was reportedly shot and seriously injured during the same police operation. Western Cape police said they had no record of such an incident.
Nigeria’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, described Simon’s death as “a very unfortunate situation”.
South Africa’s Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration confirmed on Sunday that the case was being investigated.
Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi, who chairs the committee, said some foreign nationals had resisted law-enforcement officers during the Cape Town operation, but did not provide further details about Simon’s death.
The incident comes amid renewed tensions over allegations of xenophobic violence and police misconduct targeting Nigerians and other foreign nationals in South Africa.
Earlier this month, South African authorities confirmed that Ipid was also investigating the June death of another Nigerian, Emeka Charles Iroegbu, who allegedly died during a police operation.