Abia Govt Condemns Murder of Abia-Born Man by South African Police, Demands Justice

The Abia State Government has condemned the killing of an Abia-born man, Mr. Chika Ibe of Lokpaukwu in Umunneochi Local Government Area, allegedly by officials of the South African Police Service in Cape Town.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, the state government said it joined the Federal Government in condemning what it described as a dastardly act.
According to the statement, the Abia State Government received with shock and deep sadness the news of the brutal killing of Mr. Ibe at the hands of members of the South African Police Service in Cape Town on Wednesday, July 23, 2026.
The statement said disturbing videos circulating online show police officers assaulting Mr. Ibe, with one officer allegedly using a polyethylene bag to repeatedly suffocate him until he died.
It added that although the circumstances surrounding the operation are still under investigation, what is evident from the footage is a level of cruelty that is condemnable in the strongest terms.
The statement further noted that in one of the videos, Mr. Ibe was heard shouting, “I’m dying,” yet the police officers allegedly remained unperturbed until he stopped breathing.
It also stated that the incident comes on the heels of reports that another Nigerian, Mr. Egwabor Patrick Chuks, was shot and is currently receiving treatment for severe injuries.
“We recall with pain that in recent times, many Nigerians have either been killed, assaulted, or had their businesses looted in a wave of xenophobic attacks and targeted violence carried out by some South Africans. Nigerians in the diaspora deserve to live with dignity and safety, not in fear,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the Abia State Government called on the Federal Government to immediately demand answers from the South African Government and ensure that a swift, transparent, and independent investigation into Mr. Ibe’s killing is carried out without delay.
The state government also demanded that all those responsible for the heinous act be identified, arrested, and prosecuted to the full extent of the law, stressing that anything short of justice would constitute a further insult to Nigeria and to the memory of Mr. Ibe and other Nigerians who have died under similar circumstances.
The Abia government further urged the South African Government to bring the ongoing attacks to an immediate halt by taking decisive steps to call its citizens to order.
According to the statement, the attacks represent a sad commentary on Africans, who are expected to live together as brothers and sisters.
Governor Alex Otti, on behalf of the Government and people of Abia State, also commiserated with the family of the deceased.
“We pray that God will grant them the fortitude to bear this painful loss and grant the soul of the deceased eternal repose,” the statement added.