The Abia State Government has condemned the alleged killing of an Abia-born Nigerian, Chika Ibe, by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), describing the incident as a brutal act that demands immediate justice.
Ibe, a native of Lokpaukwu in Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State, was reportedly killed in Cape Town on Wednesday, July 23, 2026.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, the state government said it received the news “with shock and deep sadness.”
Governor Otti, on behalf of the government and people of Abia State, extended his condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for the peaceful repose of Ibe’s soul.
According to the statement, disturbing videos circulating online allegedly showed South African police officers assaulting the deceased during the operation.
The government alleged that one of the officers was seen repeatedly using a polyethylene bag to suffocate Ibe despite his desperate cries for help.
“Mr. Ibe was heard shouting, ‘I’m dying,’ but the officers reportedly remained unperturbed,” the statement said.
While noting that investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident were still ongoing, the Abia State Government maintained that the footage available already pointed to what it described as an unacceptable level of brutality.
“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,” Ekeoma stated.
The government further expressed concern over reports that another Nigerian, Egwabor Patrick, was allegedly shot during a separate incident and is currently receiving treatment for severe injuries.
Abia State joined the Federal Government in calling for a swift, transparent and independent investigation into Ibe’s death, insisting that everyone responsible must be identified, arrested and prosecuted.
“Anything short of justice will be a further insult to Nigeria and to the memory of this Abian and other Nigerians who have died in similar circumstances,” the statement added.
The government also urged South African authorities to take urgent steps to halt what it described as recurring attacks on Nigerians living in the country.
It called on the South African government to rein in perpetrators of such acts, stressing that Africans should coexist peacefully as brothers and sisters rather than engage in violence against one another.
Ekeoma lamented that the latest incident was part of a disturbing pattern in which Nigerians in South Africa have reportedly been killed, assaulted or had their businesses looted in xenophobic attacks over the years.
“Nigerians in the diaspora deserve to live with dignity and safety, not in fear,” he said.