Four police officers arrested for assaulting Nigerian in South Africa
South African authorities have arrested four police officers for beating a Nigerian into a coma.
The cops were arrested on Wednesday at the Boksburg North Police Station by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).
The arrest followed a complaint lodged by the consulate on the assault, which was said to have incapacitated the victim.
An official of the consulate, Elizabeth Wale-Ayodele, said the assault occurred on January 9 in Boksburg.
“Two weeks ago, 9th January, 2023, a Nigerian was assaulted in Boksburg by four policemen. We received this at the consulate and immediately, the CG (consul general), Mr Andrew Idi, was here two weeks ago to pay the victim a visit,” said Ms Wale-Ayodele. “He (the victim) was assaulted, thoroughly beaten, even when he complained of having kidney issues. He fell into a coma and was in a coma for nine days.”
She added, “So when he came out of the coma, the CG was here to visit him and we opened the case with IPID. The consulate has followed up the case up till this moment. We are happy to see this happen. We are happy to see that Nigerians are not assaulted and perpetrators go scot-free.”
Ms Wale-Ayodele added that the consulate was “happy to see justice prevail.”
Nigerian consulate officials were present during the arrest by IPID, the police watchdog.
The four officers arrested in connection with the assault on the Nigerian are facing charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and defeating the ends of justice. Two other policemen were arrested for alleged copper theft and defeating the ends of justice.
The six policemen would be arraigned on Thursday.
The policemen, who assaulted the Nigerian, were said to have demanded the identification papers of the victim and his friends.
The spokesperson for IPID, Lizzy Suping, said the victim was arrested and taken to the police station when he could not produce the required documents.
She said he was subsequently assaulted and tortured by the officers at the police station and was taken to the hospital, where he was in a coma for nine days.
The suspects, she added, would be arraigned at the Boksburg Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Politics
Supreme court dismisses suit against Oyetola’s participation in Osun poll
A judgment by a five-member panel of justices led by Centus Nweze held that the appeal by the PDP was without merit.
Politics
Naira notes deadline should be extended to June, SDP advises Buhari
“There is no doubt that the terrible effect of the ill-timed CBN swap programme, just like the biting artificial fuel scarcity, is causing untold hardship.”
Abuja
Two dead, several trapped in Gwarimpa building collapse
A building in the Gwarimpa area of Abuja has collapsed, killing two people with many injured and trapped beneath the debris.
Economy
Naira scarcity bites harder in Awka over CBN recoloured banknotes
Cash-strapped, many Awka residents have become stranded.
Politics
PDP vows to take over Ekiti in 2023 general election
Sadiq Obanoyen, the chairman of the Ekiti chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party Caretaker Committee, has vowed that the party will clear the state’s votes in the 2023 general election.
Economy
FG planning dry inland port for Zamfara: Matawalle
Mr Matawalle says the Nigerian Shippers Council will soon commence the construction of a new vehicles’ transit park and an inland dry port in Gusau.
