The South African Police have promised the Nigerian community and those of other foreigners in that country that they would make sure their lives and property were protected.
The police gave the assurance on Friday when the leadership of Nigeria Union South Africa (NUSA), led by its President, Mr Collins Mgbo, met with stakeholders in Kimberley, Northern Cape, South Africa, where a Nigerian died following a gangsters’ attack.
He said in a statement on Saturday from Pretoria that the meeting was attended by Brigadier Rikhostso, Head of Kimberley Police Cluster, representatives of religious organisations, the host community and the South African widow of the deceased, Miss Caroline Chikoma and her four-month-old baby.
Mgbo said in a statement that the purpose of the meeting was to appeal to the police to make sure that justice was served in the case of the late Mr Nicolas and for his killers to be brought to book.
“Secondly, the meeting was able to establish a structure or team which comprises the Police, Nigerians, others migrant community organisations and churches.
“The responsibility of this group is to make sure that information is sent across to the Police whenever there is a crisis so that the police can handle the matter quickly before it gets out of control.
“The Police have promised the Nigerian community that they will make sure their lives and properties are protected,’’ Mgbo said.
The Nigerian Union president advised Nigerians in Kimberly to go about their business and make sure that they stayed away from any form of illegal activity.
It will be recalled that NUSA had on Thursday announced the death of an ebullient Nigerian as a result of last week’s attack on foreigners by gangsters.
Mgbo, had said in a statement from Pretoria that the deceased, Nicholas John, was an indigene of Ogun State, and sells cars in Kimberley, Northern Cape, South Africa.
He also disclosed that his South African-born wife gave birth three months ago.
On the circumstances that led to Nicholas’ death on Tuesday, the NUSA president said that on Feb. 11, he was attacked by a South African gang for allegedly buying a stolen laptop.
He was beaten alongside his friends who they believed was an accomplice, while the South African criminal who stole the laptop and sold it to Nicholas was left unharmed.
Other Nigerians at the scene called an ambulance and took him to the Intensive Care Unit of the Kimberley Hospital, but they were informed by the medical doctor at the hospital that his brain was damaged and he might not make it.
