Abia condemns killing of indigene in South Africa

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has condemned the killing of Chika Ibe, a Nigerian from Lokpaukwu, Umunneochi Local Government Area, who was allegedly killed by South African Police Service officers in Cape Town on Wednesday, July 23, 2026. The Abia State Government expressed shock and deep sadness upon receiving the news.

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Governor Alex Otti, on behalf of the government and people of Abia State, commiserates with the family of Mr Ibe and prays for God’s comfort and for the repose of the deceased’s soul.

In a statement released by Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, the government extended condolences to Mr. Ibe's family and prayed for God's comfort and the repose of his soul. The statement noted that disturbing videos circulating online depicted police officers assaulting Mr. Ibe. One clip allegedly shows an officer using a polyethylene bag to repeatedly suffocate him until he died, while Mr. Ibe was heard shouting, "I'm dying," but the officers reportedly remained unperturbed.

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I'm dying

The government stated that while the circumstances surrounding the operation are under investigation, the footage clearly shows a level of cruelty that is condemnable in the strongest terms. The killing follows reports of another Nigerian, Egwabor Patrick, being shot and currently receiving medical treatment for severe injuries. The Abia State government has joined the Federal Government in demanding a swift, transparent, and independent investigation into the killing, calling for the identification, arrest, and prosecution of those responsible.

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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.

"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 urged South African authorities to "immediately bring this carnage to a halt" and to call their citizens to order, describing the attacks as "a very sad commentary on Africans who are supposed to live as brothers and sisters." Ekeoma highlighted that many Nigerians in South Africa have recently been killed, assaulted, or had their businesses looted in what he described as a wave of xenophobic attacks and targeted violence. "Nigerians in the diaspora deserve to live with dignity and safety, not in fear," he stated.

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Nigerians in the diaspora deserve to live with dignity and safety, not in fear.