Nigerian national burnt to death in South Africa
A Nigerian man identified as Clement Ebuka Nwaogu has been burnt to death by a mob in South Africa.
The Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Union in South Africa, Habib Miller, said the victim, a native of Njikoka in Anambra and an upholsterer in the country, was attacked and killed by a mob in Rustenburg, North West Province.
Miller alleged that the victim was murdered in cold blood over his accent and habit, which the mobsters supposedly found offensive.
“The mob descended on him like a common criminal with all sorts of dangerous weapons in the presence of South African police officers,” he said.
“Eyewitnesses say the victim beckoned for help from the police to intervene and help him, but they turned a blind eye. When Nwaogu could no longer persevere, he ran for safety; the mob chased and caught him, poured petrol on him and set him ablaze,” he said.
Miller said Nwaogu later died at Job Shimankane Hospital.
The North West police say the incident is not related to the violent protests in the area this week.
The killing of Nwaogu came less than 10 days after another Nigerian ThankGod Okoro, 30, from Ogbaku in the Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State was murdered.
No fewer than 117 Nigerians have reportedly been killed in South Africa since February, 2016.
Unofficial estimates put the number of Nigerians residing in South Africa at about 800,000, majority of whom are young people.
