THE Abia State Government has condemned in the strongest terms the deliberate and brutal killing of a Nigerian citizen, Mr. Chika Ibe from Lokpaukwu Umunneochi LGA, at the hands of members of the South African Police Service in Cape Town on Wednesday, July 23, 2026, describing the act as dastardly.
In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor, Ferdinand Ekeoma, the government expressed shock and deep sadness over the incident.
“Disturbing videos circulating online show police officers assaulting Mr. Ibe, with one officer allegedly using a polyethylene bag to repeatedly suffocate him until he died,” the statement read.
“The circumstances surrounding the operation are still under investigation, but what is clear from the footage is a level of cruelty that is condemnable in the strongest terms. In one of the videos, Mr. Ibe was heard shouting loudly ‘I’m dying’ yet, the Police Officers remained unperturbed until he stopped breathing.”
Second Nigerian Shot in Separate Incident
The statement noted that the killing came on the heels of reports that another Nigerian, Mr. Egwabor Patrick Chuks, was also shot and is currently receiving treatment for severe injuries.
“Abia State Government joins the Federal Government in condemning this dastardly act,” the statement continued. “We recall with pain that in recent times, many Nigerians have either been killed, assaulted, or had their businesses looted in a wave of xenophobic attacks and targeted violence carried out by some South Africans.”
“Nigerians in the diaspora deserve to live with dignity and safety, not in fear.”
Three Demands Issued to South African Government
The Abia State Government put forward three key demands to the South African authorities:
First, that the demands by the Federal Government of Nigeria for immediate answers from the South African government through a swift, transparent, and independent investigation into the killing be done quickly.
Second, that the perpetrators of this heinous act must be identified, arrested, and prosecuted to the full extent of the law. “Anything short of justice will be a further insult to Nigeria and to the memory of this Abian and other Nigerians that had died in similar circumstances,” the statement warned.
Third, that the government of South Africa should immediately bring this carnage to a halt by genuinely calling its citizens to order. “These attacks are a very sad commentary on Africans who are supposed to live as brothers and sisters.”
Governor Otti Commiserates with Family
Governor Otti, on behalf of the government and good people of Abia State, commiserated with the family of Mr. Ibe, praying that God would grant them the fortitude to bear this painful loss, and the soul of the deceased, eternal repose.
The incident has renewed concerns over the safety of Nigerian citizens in South Africa, where xenophobic attacks and alleged police brutality have claimed numerous lives in recent years, straining diplomatic relations between Africa’s two largest economies.
