Unknown gunman shoots fellow Nigerian dead in South Africa

Following a series of killings of Nigerians in South Africa between April 6th to 9th, another victim, Tony Elochukwu, has been killed by an unidentified Nigerian in South Africa.

It was gathered that the deceased was shot in the head at a restaurant by the unidentified man who fled the scene immediately.

In a letter sent to Godwin Adams, consular general, Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg, Ben Okoli, president of Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA) expressed sadness over the killings stating that no action had been taken to exercise justice.

“We received yet again the sad news of the death of another Nigerian in Witbank Mpumalanga province. Mr. Tony Elochukwu from Nnobi Anambra State who was shot twice in the head by an unidentified Nigerian gunman on April 24 at around 2:45 pm.

“This looks like another case of Nigerians killing themselves. This ugly trend of Nigerians killed by fellow Nigerians is on the increase and is disturbing to our community,” he said.

“NICASA is deeply worried over the death and continued killings of our citizens in South Africa.

“People are worried and scared, since none of the perpetrators had been arrested or charged over it.

Read also: US officials release names of 9 Nigerians arrested for $3.5m fraud

“The South African police must stop attempting to encourage this killing by lack of investigation and prosecution with aim of bringing to justice every criminal involved in these heinous crimes.

“It is clear that as much as any form of criminality and xenophobic attacks against foreigners, including Nigerians in South Africa is condemnable, the killings do not fit into xenophobic attacks,” he said.

“The cases are the stabbing of a Nigerian, Mr. Bonny Iwuola, in Turfontain in Johannesburg on April 6 at about 23:30 hours in front of his house, by unknown assailants, and more of crime related to murder.

“Another Nigerian, Gozien Christian, from Agbor in Delta State, was stabbed to death by three unknown assailants. No arrest has been made but cases were opened and police are investigating the murders.

“The third case of murder which happened on the night of April 8 at Sunnyside in Pretoria happened at the usual place of cult-related murders by Nigerian cult groups.

“This particular case had more connection with business-related disagreement that turned sour.

“Investigations are on but eye witness accounts indicated that he was killed and his new Mercedes car-2019 model was snatched and driven away. All these cases do not appear to be xenophobic.

“They are part of the usual crime-related killings in South Africa. Police statistics in South Africa indicate that over 18,000 murders take place in South Africa in a year” he said.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now